TRENTON — The chairwoman for the Assembly Human Services Committee today called on the Department of Children and Families to delay phasing out as many as 9,000 children from its home therapy program this year. Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) held a hearing Monday on Gov. Chris Christie administration's plan to end "in-home intensive community" therapy for children who are...
Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) is pictured in an October file photo.TRENTON — The chairwoman for the Assembly Human Services Committee today called on the Department of Children and Families to delay phasing out as many as 9,000 children from its home therapy program this year.
Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) held a hearing Monday on Gov. Chris Christie administration's plan to end "in-home intensive community" therapy for children who are not diagnosed with the most seriously mentally ill or having the most problematic behavioral problems.
The department's Division of Child Behavioral Health Services plans to link these children, starting Feb. 1, with out-patient counselors. Home therapy is considered a more "invasive" and intensive approach, and these services — which cost $30 more an hour than out-patient therapy, should be reserved for children in the most need, Deputy Director Brian Hancock testified. About 10,000 children with serious behavioral issues will remain in the program.
Huttle said after hearing from a parent advocacy group and therapists raising concerns about the change on Monday afternoon, she will ask "all my fellow committee members to sign onto a letter asking the administration to delay its plans to end this invaluable treatment.''
The department did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on Huttle's announcement.
Opponents to the plan say families will have a hard time finding transportation to the service, and have praised in-home therapy from preventing minor problems, such as cutting school and fighting at home, with escalating to a crisis.
"We all know that finding ways to cut costs is always important, but in-home therapy for children works and costs far less than long-term residential care,'' Huttle said. "It's also clear that this decision will have long-term negative ramifications on children and families, and that we have too many unanswered questions and concerns about how this will work.''
The in-home therapy program cost the state $37 million last year, according to a department official.