Psychotropic Medication Prescriptions for Children and Youth in Foster Care

The rate of psychotropic medication prescriptions for children and youth in foster care is higher than the general population, according to several media reports and studies. An alarming number of children have been prescribed multiple potent classes of drugs to be taken simultaneously.

Senate Bill 238, signed into law by Governor Brown on October 6, 2015, stipulates that certain professionals and others who work with children and youth in foster care should be provided training about important topics related to the administration of psychotropic medication. The main focus of the training revolves around trauma and how other factors such as mental health, substance abuse, and accessing other services in addition to psychotropic medications when indicated will improve outcomes for children and youth in foster care.

For more information, please contact Nancy Satterwhite at nsatterwhite@sdsu.edu and visit the website https://calswec.berkeley.edu/psychotropic-medication-toolkit