Montana cites NATSAP under pressure to create regulations.
http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/mon ... 50319.html MONTANA LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
By: John Madsen MSW
Admissions Director
Alternative Youth Adventures
Boulder, Montana
406 439 4524
http://www.strugglingteens.com/news/news.html ). The State agency, DPHHS, cited a need for state oversight of children in out-of-home care and a need for Montana to follow other states in licensing these types of programs because some programs were reportedly coming to Montana to avoid licensing in other states. Reportedly, the programs migrating to Montana were avoiding regulation in states such as Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado & Utah. DPHHS reasoned that while the licensing regulations may require additional staff and money to regulate the programs, if a serious incident occurs at one of the programs, they may be vulnerable to legal actions.
Both sides agreed that there was a need for oversight and both agreed that most programs and outcomes were generally very successful. It was thought that only a few programs are possibly problematic.
The actions of the Montana Legislature will be closely watched. The State?s DPHHS?s point of view is that while registering and licensing would be expensive for Montana, possible legal action from private parties are a real threat and potentially more costly. They believe that they have the responsibility to protect children being cared for within the State. Their thinking is that if the State does not provide oversight of programs within the State, the potential for injuries, abuse, accidents, and other serious incidents perhaps are more likely to occur.
The provider group, on the other hand, opposes being licensed by a large state entity, believing that their creativity and uniqueness will be lost. Furthermore, they believe that the information contained in the white paper is slanted in a manner that does not recognize and understand the private pay industry.
[Creativity and Uniqueness= Creative Abuse?]
Montana and providers within the State are now in the middle of a very interesting and difficult struggle. It needs to be remembered that Montana has some of the most effective and well thought out programs in the country. Montana Academy, Explorations, Chrysalis, Mission Mountain, Wilderness Treatment, Intermountain Children?s Home, and Monarch are known to be some of the best in the country. This is indicated by them consistently receiving high positive marks and comments from the most successful and highly trained independent educational consultants throughout the country in the annual survey conducted by Woodbury Reports. Others, like Summit Preparatory have not been in existence long enough to establish a national presence, but show great promise. Still others like Galena Ridge and Building Bridges remain small, but provide excellent services for youth of this country.
As difficult as this struggle is, Montana has the opportunity to thoroughly study the issue, and hopefully arrive at a level of understanding and enlightenment that will provide protection to children and at the same time lead the country in appreciating and respecting the private sector?s ability to develop creative and effective programs for youth. Private sector programs operate under different dynamics than public sector programs. We do not want to lose programs of this caliber in an attempt to impose the same processes as have been developed for Montana children in public programs. We encourage the State of Montana to study this issue and show leadership throughout the country in developing an enlightened process that will both protect the public and encourage new ideas and approaches to helping youth.
Copyright © 2005, Woodbury Reports, Inc
