Parenting a mentally ill child can be one of life's greatest challenges.
When you keep asking questions, keep searching for mental health care that can help your child, you may not get the right answers.
Michigan Radio's Sarah Alvarez is the Public Insight journalist for the State of Opportunity project.
She says it's difficult for many people to find mental health care for children. Some do get help from a Medicaid program called a Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED) waiver.
One of them is Annie Kitching, who says the program is “absolutely amazing.” The services include intensive therapy, music therapy, and sleep-away camp.
However, Alvarez notes this program is offered in only 37 Michigan counties through Community Mental Health offices. Northern Michigan, in particular, is underrepresented in the number of counties that offer the SED waiver.
*Listen to the interview with Sarah Alvarez above.
