A
JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH STUDY THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TREATMENT BEDS FOR VIOLENT, MENTALLY ILL
ADOLESCENTS, ESPECIALLY VIOLENT, MENTALLY ILL ADOLESCENT FEMALES.
WHEREAS, in providing funding
for the construction and operation of the Sequoyah adolescent treatment center,
it was the intent of the New Mexico legislature that treatment be provided for
violent, mentally ill adolescents and that such children be served regardless
of gender or whether acute or chronic
conditions are involved; and
WHEREAS, it was the intent of
the legislature that, of the four treatment pods comprising the center, one
should house female residents and one should treat children with acute
conditions; and
WHEREAS, although the center is
fully operational and capable of providing treatment for up to thirty-six
violent, mentally ill adolescents, this treatment is provided exclusively to
boys and largely for chronic conditions; and
WHEREAS, there is a continuous
waiting list for acceptance into the program; and
WHEREAS, changes in medicaid
regulations have lessened the availability of beds and facilities for treatment
throughout the state of both chronically and acutely mentally ill adolescents,
chronic cases in particular; and
WHEREAS, juvenile detention and
commitment facilities are not capable of providing necessary therapeutic
intervention for the considerable number of their residents who require such
treatment; and
WHEREAS, the need and demand
for such services now far exceeds the availability of beds; and
WHEREAS, there is room for
facility expansion on the grounds of the Sequoyah adolescent treatment center;
and
WHEREAS, the Sequoyah
adolescent treatment center advisory board recognizes the critical need for a
residential treatment facility for female adolescents;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be
requested to conduct a study to determine the nature and scope of the need for additional
treatment beds, with particular attention to the need for the provision of
additional resources for the treatment of violent, mentally ill adolescent
females; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the
department of health report its findings to the legislative health and human
services committee at its October 2003 meeting; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
copies of this memorial be transmitted to the department of health and to the
legislative health and human services committee.