WASHINGTON, D.C. – First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney on Thursday joined leaders from Casey Family Programs and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), along with youth representatives and other first spouses, at a Youth Mental Health Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Participants from HHS included Secretary Xavier Becerra; January Contreras, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families (ACF); and Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
“I’m very grateful to our partners from Casey Family Programs and AAP for organizing the summit in response to the crisis in youth mental health,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney, “and grateful to the leadership at HHS for their commitment to continuing to engage young people in discussions about policies and programs. I’m especially grateful to the young adults from Delaware and across the country who shared their perspectives from experience with childhood trauma. That was the main purpose of the summit, to hear from young people directly. They spoke very powerfully and, I’m sure, will continue to do so, as long as policy makers continue to invite them to the table, to listen, and to act responsively. Thursday’s summit helped to advance that essential collaboration.”
“At Casey Family Programs, we recognize that to fully serve children, youth and their families, and to help them reach their full potential, we must listen to them closely,” said Dr. William C. Bell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Casey Family Programs. “The First Spouses Summit on Youth Mental Health brings youth to the center of the conversation with key stakeholders. This is authentic listening and equitable engagement in action. By working alongside youth and investing in what they tell us they need, we can all come together to build Communities of Hope that provide the support and opportunities that children, youth and families need to thrive.”
“We know that to be well, youth must not only be safe, but they must feel safe. Appropriate mental health services can be key to youth and family well-being, but accessing services is often challenging,” said Dr. David Sanders, Executive Vice President of Systems Improvement for Casey Family Programs. “Casey Family Programs is honored to play a role in bringing together youth, pediatricians, first spouses and key national leaders in child welfare and federal policy to help drive solutions that overcome these challenges.”
“I was so inspired and energized by the representatives at the Youth Mental Health Summit. The Delaware delegation was able to share the amazing work happening here to improve access to behavioral health services in primary care, schools, and via telemedicine, and in building a diverse workforce to meet these needs,” said Dr. Jonathan Miller, Medical Director of Value-Based Care and Chief of Primary Care, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley. “We also shared our progress in identifying and addressing social determinants of health to support our youth.”
“Pediatricians across the country have witnessed first-hand the mental health crisis facing young people. That is why the Academy, along with child and adolescent psychiatrists and children’s hospitals, declared a national emergency in youth mental health last year, and this crisis remains at a critical tipping point,” said Dr. Sally Goza, MD, FAAP, Past President of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We need urgent action at all levels of government to ensure all children and teens can receive mental health care and support, from prevention to early intervention to crisis response.”
Visit the Governor’s website to view photos from the Summit.
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