Treatment Planning and Medication Monitoring Were Lacking for Children in Foster Care Receiving Psychotropic Medication

Up to 80 percent of children enter foster care with significant mental health needs. For children with mental health needs, psychotropic medications (i.e., medication used to treat clinical psychiatric symptoms or mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders) may be effective treatments. However, these medications can have serious side effects and, as ACF suggests, should be used in conjunction with treatment planning mechanisms and effective medication monitoring. A 2015 OIG report found-based on review of medical records-serious quality-of-care concerns in the treatment of children with psychotropic medications.