‘Resolve, To Improve Communication Regarding and the Coordination of Care for Children Who Are Prescribed Antipsychotic Medications’

‘Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services committee on antipsychotic medications for children. Resolved: That the psychiatric work group within the Department of Health and Human Services shall convene a committee on antipsychotic medications for children, consisting of state employees with experience in children's mental health and private sector stakeholders as determined by the psychiatric work group and referred to in this section as "the committee," to review case management and the coordination of care for children who are prescribed antipsychotic medications, to examine current channels of communication among clinicians, case workers and foster families regarding the care for children who are prescribed antipsychotic medications and to make any recommendations for improvements as determined to be appropriate by the committee. The committee shall identify known side effects of antipsychotic medications and consider possible means of mitigating or avoiding those side effects. The committee must be chaired by the chair of the psychiatric work group or the designee of that person and must include members of the public and representatives appointed by the chair of the psychiatric work group from some or all of the following state agencies and advocacy organizations: the Bureau of Child and Family Services and the Office of MaineCare Services within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians, the Maine Parent Federation, the Maine Children's Alliance and an organization representing the interests of foster families in the State. The department shall fund the work of the committee from within existing resources. The department shall report the committee's findings and any recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services not later than January 15, 2012.’