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Examining the Rise in Emergency Room Stays for Children in Connecticut

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Children with mental health problems are spending more time in emergency rooms, according to a report from the Connecticut Health Investigative Team. In 2010, 40 children spent multiple nights in the emergency room for mental health issues. By the end of this year, C-HIT says that number is expected to rise to 500.

Sarah Eagan, Connecticut's child advocate, spoke on WNPR's Where We Live, saying this is largely crisis- driven. "We still have mental health system that is based on episodic care," she said. "We don't have someone that sticks with the family."

Critics of the system said the ER spike is due to both inadequate insurance coverage and a lack of residential placements. State Senator Beth Bye said Connecticut's Department of Children and Families is placing children with mental health issues in home settings versus congregate care. "As we move toward more family settings," she said, "we have to make sure we stage it appropriately. I think a lot of what we're seeing at the emergency room is because we haven't staged that move appropriately as a state."

Bye said that cuts to residential facilities and a shift to home care could create hurdles for children seeking mental health services after they leave the ER. "I think the pipeline is broken," she said. "Some of it is related to state policy. We are urging DCF to look carefully at the pipeline and make sure we don't close too many options for children and families."

DCF told C-HIT the spike in ER stays is not related to the closing of group homes, but instead mirrors national trends

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.