Severe emotional problems cited in foster care kids

Tuesday, April 23, 2002 | 9:44 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An estimated 30 percent of the children in foster care in Nevada are severely emotionally disturbed, a legislative study committee was told Monday.

Christa Peterson, deputy administrator of the state Division of Children and Family Services, said a survey showed that 327 foster care children have not received the services needed to deal with their disorders.

Peterson told the Legislative Committee on Children, Youth and Families that a pilot project would start in about 30 days to provide comprehensive treatment for 33 children who suffer from a variety of problems, including post-traumatic stress, conduct disorders, depression and attention deficit with hyperactivity.

Children sent to foster homes tend to have more of these emotional problems than the general population, Peterson said.

Fifty-eight percent of those in the pilot project will be males, and the largest age group is 9-14 years old, Peterson said.

The 2001 Legislature authorized $283,365 this fiscal year and $2.4 million next fiscal year to begin the program statewide. About $18,500 will be spent treating each child.

Sen. Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, said she was disturbed to see the number of children suffering from post-traumatic stress, about 28 percent of those in the pilot project.

Peterson said these children have been severely abused or neglected before they arrive in the foster home, or they have a psychotic-like syndrome or suffer from extreme anxiety.

The survey that showed 327 children were severely disturbed was done in 2000. Peterson said a later study estimated there would be 350 to 400 children who are not getting the treatment they need.

The pilot project calls for 52 percent of the children to come from Clark County and 24 percent each from Washoe County and rural Nevada.

Peterson told the committee the psychiatric case managers have been hired, and an evaluation will be done on the cost and effectiveness of the pilot project.