[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTRODUCING THE HEALTHY TRANSITIONS ACT OF 2009

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 2009

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today with Representatives Mary Bono 
Mack and Dave Camp to introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at 
addressing the unique needs of young people with serious mental 
illness. This legislation will provide comprehensive support for youth 
so that they can transition into healthy and successful adults.
  Young adults suffering from mental illness fall through the cracks 
far too often. Last year, former Senator Gordon Smith and I requested a 
report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examining the 
challenges facing this population. The results were very troubling. As 
of 2006, approximately 2.4 million young adults age 18-26 in America 
had a serious mental illness and another 9.3 million suffered with a 
moderate or mild mental illness. This population has significantly 
higher rates of unemployment, incarceration, suicide, inadequate 
housing, as well as lower rates of continuing education.
  There is no coherent federal policy to address this issue and our 
system is fragmented. The GAO found that many youth lose mental health 
coverage or have their coverage disrupted when they turn 18, and are 
unable to find age-appropriate services in the adult mental health 
system. As a result, many young adults are adrift without services, 
support, or guidance.
  The dysfunctional mental health system described by GAO has had a 
particularly harsh impact on vulnerable youth, such as those aging out 
of foster care. A national survey found that foster youth were four 
times more likely to have attempted suicide in the preceding year when 
compared to those never placed in foster care. Another study found that 
these youth suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at rates similar 
to Iraq War veterans. We cannot let this cycle of neglect continue.
  We developed the Healthy Transitions Act in response to GAO's 
findings that exposed the critical gaps in age-appropriate mental 
health and supportive services for young adults. This legislation 
builds on the successful Partnership for Youth in Transition 
Demonstration Program and will allow the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand their efforts to 
assist states in serving young people with mental illness. It will 
provide grant funding to states to develop statewide coordination plans 
that will assist adolescents and young adults with serious mental 
health disorders in making a healthy transition into adulthood. The 
bill will also provide grant funding for states to successfully 
implement their plans and ensure that the care systems created are both 
comprehensive and sustainable. Finally, the legislation will create a 
Committee of Federal Partners. The Committee will include 
representatives from all agencies that serve young adults as well as 
representatives from consumer and family advocacy organizations. The 
Federal Partners will evaluate the states' programs, provide technical 
assistance, and report to Congress on the progress being made.
  It has become increasingly difficult for young adults to navigate our 
current fragmented mental health system. The Healthy Transitions Act 
aims to fill the cracks in the system by coordinating the work of 
federal, state, and local partners. It is our social responsibility to 
help these youth develop into successful, independent adults. I hope 
all of my colleagues can recognize the importance of investing in our 
young people and will support this legislation.

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