Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR, picture) and Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) led their respective chambers in drafting legislation to protect young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 with a serious mental health disorder. The goal for an estimated 2.4 million people living in the community is to help them build "the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to ensure their healthy transition to successful adult roles and responsibilities."
Last week a Government Accounting Office (GAO) report, Young Adults with Serious Mental Illness outlined unique needs for education, housing and job training that would help those in transit between children and adult mental health systems. Four states (Conn., Maryland, Mass., and Miss.) were cited for policies with specific examples.
To follow S. 3195, “Healthy Transition Act of 2008” click here.
