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Children's Mental Health Local Advisory Council reports longer wait times, insurance and transportation barriers; board proclaims Mental Health Month
Summary
The Children's Mental Health Local Advisory Council (LAC) presented its annual report: survey respondents identified long wait times, insurance gaps and transportation as the top barriers to care; the board approved membership and proclaimed May as Mental Health Month and adopted foster-care and childcare appreciation proclamations.
The Clay County Board received the annual report from the Children's Mental Health Local Advisory Council (LAC) on May 6, which summarized a community survey and recommended policy priorities including higher reimbursement rates, workforce retention, expanded adolescent substance-use services and transportation improvements.
Survey findings: The LAC presented results from a parent/caregiver survey (102 responses) and a provider survey (52 responses). Top barriers identified were long wait times for services, insurance challenges (underinsured/uninsured or high cost sharing) and transportation barriers. Parents said individual and family therapy, primary care and psychiatric medication management were the services most commonly used; respondents reported improved child well-being when services were received. Providers reported continuing shortages in inpatient/ residential options and in youth substance-use services. The LAC also highlighted a need for increased funding and higher reimbursement rates to stabilize workforce retention and retain agency-based staff.
Recommendations and actions: The LAC asked the board to support advocacy for higher state-funded reimbursement rates, to sustain school-based mental health services and to consider a task force to address transportation barriers, particularly MATBUS route timing and stops. LAC members asked county leaders to use their platforms to press for state-level policy changes that would increase provider reimbursement and stabilize the workforce.
Proclamations and membership: The Board approved the LAC membership list and unanimously adopted proclamations recognizing May 2025 as Mental Health Month, May as Foster Care Appreciation Month and May 9 as Childcare Provider Appreciation Day. The board also acknowledged two small grant awards the LAC made last summer to expand family summer programming and donated remaining promotional gift cards to public health for family needs.
What the LAC will monitor: The group said it will continue its annual surveys, pursue public education and collaborate with agencies on transportation solutions and a regional PRTF (psychiatric residential treatment facility) or alternatives to reduce out-of-county placements for adolescents with high needs.
