State legislation and policies to improve perinatal mental health: a policy review and analysis of the state of Illinois.

Introduction: Maternal mental health problems, such as perinatal depression, are a major public health issue. In the U.S., several states have policies related to mental health during pregnancy and postpartum. The extent of these laws at the state level needs to be further explored and described. Methods: We systematically searched the Illinois General Assembly to determine all existing legislation on the topic of perinatal mental health. Results: This search uncovered two major Acts that 1) require universal perinatal depression screening and 2) raise awareness of the symptoms and treatment options related to maternal mental health. We also discovered provisions in the law that allow for untreated or undiagnosed postpartum depression or psychosis to be considered as a mitigating factor for women who commit forcible felonies. Discussion: Through legislation, states can lead change at the systems-level to improve perinatal mental health outcomes.

Campus mental health services: recommendations for change.

College officials indicate that the number of students with serious mental illnesses has risen significantly. Recent media attention surrounding several high profile suicides has opened discussion of mental illness on campus. The authors summarize literature on college students and mental illness, including barriers to service receipt. Recommendations to improve campus-based responses to serious mental illness are presented on the basis of well-accepted service principles.

Investigation laws and practices in child protective services.

This study was triggered by the experience of one state agency when a state audit found that its investigation response and completion rates of child abuse and neglect reports did not reach 100%. At compliance rates of 99.6% and 97.58%, respectively, the auditors and news media reported a lack of compliance by the state child welfare agency. This article reviews the approaches legislatures and agencies have used to address and resolve problems of ensuring agency responsiveness without setting standards and expectations that are impossible to meet.

The Supreme Court's pre-emptive strike against patients' rights to sue their HMOs.

Managed care's influence on health care is enormous. Social workers in medical and mental health settings spend increasing amounts of time dealing with client issues that result from managed care decisions. We first provide a brief overview on the impact of managed care decisions on access to quality and appropriate medical care. Next, we present the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Aetna Health Inc. vs. Davila (2004) and its impact on consumers' access to appropriate health care. Finally, we discuss the implications of this case for social work practice.

Advocating in schools for children with disabilities: what's new with IDEA?

All social workers who work with children and families, regardless of their practice setting, should be aware of the important educational rights to which children with disabilities and their families are entitled. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (P.L. 101-476), one of the most sweeping laws protecting children with disabilities, was substantially amended in 1997, and its regulatory provisions became legally effective in October 1999. This article provides information about the requirements of the law and the impact of those changes on children's educational rights. The changes discussed and their practice implications include expansion of categories of children with disabilities; new requirements for mobile, homeless, or culturally diverse populations and participants in the individualized education program process; payment for private school placements for children with disabilities; discipline of children with disabilities; and provision of social work services in the schools.

Reducing conflict between child welfare communities.

Conflict is inherent in child welfare practice. This article describes a collaborative project between a public child welfare agency and a school of social work (the UFOCWL) to strengthen and improve the connections between the agency and the larger community. The collaboration focused on identifying and recognizing the diverse roles and responsibilities between the various players in the child welfare system. This paper discusses the areas in which the UFOCWL addressed the conflicts between the child welfare service delivery system and the legal, domestic violence, and substance abuse communities. By facilitating understanding of the unique concerns and contributions each child welfare player brings to the table, inherent conflicts can be reduced and managed, ultimately improving the results for vulnerable children.