Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill that creates a mental health home visiting program for children and their families starting from birth passed in the state Senate in a vote of 28 to 5 on Thursday and is also making headway in the House.
Senate Bill 2153 (SB2153), sponsored by Senator Page Walley (R-Savannah-District 26), authorizes the Tennessee Department of Health to create an evidence-based, home-based intervention program that the sponsor says is voluntary and that parents may opt out of at any time.
Senators Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) and Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City-District 3) asked questions about the program at the behest of constituents who have expressed concern regarding the proposal.
One of Bowling’s queries had to do with informed consent of parents letting mandated reporters into their homes who might later report them to the Department of Children’s Services.
While Walley’s answers to the questions were meant to put fears to rest, Bowling and Crowe ultimately chose to vote no on the measure.
While Walley stated that the purpose of the home visits was not to prescribe psychotropic drugs to children aged 0 to 5, the Tennessee Chapter of Citizens Commission on Human Rights reports that over 11,000 infants and toddlers in the state are already taking such medications and a Tennessee bill seeks to expand the ability to prescribe to psychologists in the state.
According to the bill’s text, the Department of Health “may contract with qualified nonprofit organizations, community mental health providers, or other entities to deliver program services.”
The proposal would be an expansion of the state’s existing Home Visiting Program.
The House Version of the bill (HB2313), sponsored by David Hawk (R-Greeneville-District 5 ) is scheduled to be heard next week in the House Health Committee. If you’d like to reach out to committee members with your thoughts, you can find their contact information below.
House Health Committee – HB2313 to be heard March 17
HB2313 authorizes the department to establish and administer an early childhood mental health home visiting program as a voluntary, evidence-based and home-based intervention to promote the mental health, developmental progress, and family stability of children from birth to five years of age and their families.
Rep.bryan.terry@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov; rep.shaundelle.brooks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kip.capley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.ray.clemmons@capitol.tn.gov; rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.esther.helton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.caleb.hemmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tim.hicks@capitol.tn.gov; rep.timothy.hill@capitol.tn.gov; rep.sabi.kumar@capitol.tn.gov; rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.brock.martin@capitol.tn.gov; rep.sam.mckenzie@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov; rep.paul.sherrell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
