State behavioral services for at-risk youth hamstrung by lack of funding, staffing

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Promising programs, hampered by staffing shortages and funding problems.

That seemed to be the consensus on Wednesday as officials testified to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety over the current state of behavioral services for at-risk youth in Texas.

Speakers talked about new programs and initiatives meant to help minors who are at risk.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission said its new system navigator pilot, meant to make it easier for those looking for help to find it, has already assisted with 67 cases.  

Meanwhile, multisystemic therapy, a form of treatment meant to tackle delinquent and antisocial behavior, was brought up multiple times with some speakers pointing to it as a more effective treatment for at-risk youth.

However, programs like multisystemic therapy and outpatient care are not covered by Medicaid here in Texas.

Jamie Dudensing, the CEO of the Texas Association of Health Plans, said those gaps cause extra pressure for the state’s foster care system.

“We’re relying on the foster care system as our first resort, not the last resort,” Dudensing said.

Meanwhile, Brady Serafin, the CEO of Cedar Crest Hospital and RTC, said that he’d seen “multiple patients come to our hospital in Belton who had to drive more than five hours to receive care... Some of those patients have been in and out of hospitals 15 times over the last two years.”

The hearing comes after the lieutenant governor issued his "interim charges," where he tasked lawmakers with hearing suggestions about how to approve behavioral care in the state.