Ohio ranks high in children’s mental health care

A national survey of state and county mental health officials found that Ohio is one of top five states in providing publically funded mental health services to children (Source: “States lacking in children's mental health care,” USA Today, Nov. 20, 2008).

The report, from the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University, is an update of a similar survey conducted 25 years ago. More than one  of five states reported that no child with serious mental disorders received good care in their state, according to the report.

However, Ohio joined Washington, New York, Vermont and Maine as the states reporting the best-quality mental health care for children.

Darcy Gruttardaro, children’s issues director at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said even the states fairing the best have a considerable room for improvement.

"A lot of (states) have programs, but they often have long waiting lists too,” she said, “so families just can't get good care for their kids."