Fostering the Initiation of Discretionary Psychotropic Medication Reviews By Child Welfare Caseworkers

Because of concerns about the potential overprescribing of psychotropic medications to youths in foster care, oversight of psychotropic prescribing has been recommended. This study assessed whether education of child welfare caseworkers about potentially problematic psychiatric care of youths on their caseloads can enhance their capabilities to initiate discretionary expert medication reviews, a type of psychotropic oversight. Findings demonstrated that the educational program was feasible to implement and highly valued by caseworker participants; enhanced caseworkers' psychiatric knowledge, beliefs, and self-efficacy; and favorably impacted caseworkers' management of potentially problematic prescribing practices.