February 26, 2015

Jennifer Rodriguez testifies on use of psychiatric meds.

YLC Executive Director Jennifer Rodriguez testified before the California Senate Human Services Committee on February 24th on the key role parenting and loving supportive relationships  play in preventing inappropriate use of psychotropic medications for youth in foster care.  Reforms around use of psychotropic medications for foster youth must include efforts to restrict use of congregate care so youth are not  deprived of the supports and protections a quality caregiver provides in coping with and healing from trauma.  The hearing was detailed in an article which appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Santa Cruz Sentinel article:  Senate panel examines why California foster care system “addicted” to psychiatric drugs