The Roanoke Times published an op-ed today, 3-8-12, written by the Rev. Melissa Hays-Smith, LCSW, deacon at Christ Episcopal Church and therapist with Family Service of Roanoke Valley. She writes about the importance of having timely, community-based mental health services for children. She urges the Senate and House budget negotiators to combine their two funding proposals to maximize the impact for children who suffer from mental health disorders throughout the Commonwealth. Here is an excerpt:

“I am not alone in my belief that we must care for children who are suffering. While the Golden Rule is a central theme of my Christian faith, every major religion has some variation of this concept: We must care for others as we would want them to care for us. It is universal and integral to our humanity.

I urge our state lawmakers to stand behind their solutions for children’s mental health. The time for sending children away from their families for medical treatment is over. We must care for others as we would want them to care for us.”

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