A fund ready for donors. The Reclaiming Childhood Program Development and Research Fund will support programs which help families move beyond the current pharmaceutically-focused model of mental health and apply more holistic approaches in their daily efforts to help social, emotional, and behaviorally-challenged children. 

Where the problem lies

During the past 2 decades, there has been an alarming increase in the percentage of youth diagnosed with a mental health disorder and prescribed a variety of psychiatric drugs. Consider the following statistics:

• 20-25% of youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder.
• 11% are diagnosed ADHD with two-thirds of those taking psychotropic drugs.
• More than 8 million youth (17 years of age and younger) take at least one psychiatric drug daily for ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar or other diagnoses such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
• More than half a million toddlers (three years of age or younger) are being medicated.
• More than half a million preschool students are being medicated.

This disturbing trend has a number of potential contributing factors, including expansion of DSM criteria, a one-size-fits-all approach in public education, typical childhood developmental challenges, and childhood trauma and stress.

For example, a study conducted by the CDC found that approximately 64% of children experience at least one adverse experience and 20% experience 3 or more. In addition, it was found that adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are strongly related to development and prevalence of risk factors for health and social well-being throughout the lifespan. Exposure to such events has been shown to increase the child’s short- and long-term social-emotional and behavioral struggles (e.g., anxiety, acting out behaviors, impulsivity, inattention, depression, etc.) and therefore often is misdiagnosed as another disorder (e.g., ADHD, ODD, Bipolar). Unfortunately, these children typically do not receive appropriate nor meaningful support.

Studies have clearly demonstrated that the long-term use of psychiatric drugs lacks efficacy and often contributes to worsening of symptoms as well as chronic disability.

Help is on the way

Our mission is to help families move beyond the current pharmaceutically-focused model of mental health and better understand the need to apply more holistic approaches in their daily efforts to help social, emotional, and behaviorally-challenged children.

One of the main goals is to dramatically slow down the trend of over diagnosing, labeling and medicating children in the name of mental health. We want to help adults, help kids — still in the prime of their critical development stages- live more “normal” childhoods and become great citizens.

We must establish a genuine partnership that encourages dialogue for informed consent. This process should also include ongoing feedback from the child and family regarding what supports are helpful. Families have a right to be fully informed when making such important decisions regarding their child’s care.

Children and families will be provided an opportunity to participate in a variety of supports and activities based on their individual needs, interests, and strengths. The program will include therapeutic sessions, with focus on improving confidence and self-worth as well as developing life skills and relationships. For example, learning how to identify, manage, and communicate strong emotions.