CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

24.3.2 Guidelines for Informed Consent Decisions

Healthcare treatment decisions for children, including the use of medication, are always important and should be made thoughtfully, considering relevant information available.  Just as non-pharmacological interventions should be considered for any condition, pharmaceutical intervention for mental health issues should never be the first nor sole intervention for children in Children’s Division’s custody.

When a case manager is authorized to consent to routine or non-routine treatment, in addition to the factors listed in Section 24.3.1, they should also consider:

  • Child and Family medical history, as documented in the CW-103, CD-264 and  CD-265
  • Age of the child
  • Child’s expressed preference
  • Assessment of the health care provider
  • Whether a second opinion would be helpful
  • Plan for safe storage of medications

Chapter Memoranda History: (prior to 1/31/07)

Memoranda History: