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