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n , y The Center for Emotional and Behavioral Health-Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health Clinic-IRC CSAC B . PROGRAM NEED STATEMENT (Entire Section B not to exceed one page) 1 . a) What is the unacceptable condition requiring change ? B) Who has the need ? I c) Where do they live? d ) Provide local, state, or national trend data, with reference source, that corroborates that this is an area of need . Loss of function in a child ' s life as a result of stress or psychiatric disorder interferes with their ability to perform in school, maintain relationships and meet the ordinary demands of life . As reported in the proceedings based on the surgeon general ' s conference on the mental health, the nation is facing a public crisis in mental healthcare for infants, children, and adolescents . Many children have mental health problems that interfere with normal development and functioning . "In the United States, one in ten children and adolescents suffer form mental illness severe enough to cause some level of impairments (Burns et al . , 1995 ; Shaffer, et al . , 1996 ) Yet in any given year, it is estimated that about one in five of such children receive specialty mental health services (Burns et al . , 1995 ) . Unmet need for services remains as high now as it was 20 years ago . Recent evidence compiled by the World Health Organization indicates that by the year 2020, childhood neuropsychiatric disorders will rise proportionately by over 50 percent, internationally, to become one of the five most common causes of morbidity, mortality, and disability among children . There is broad evidence that the nation lacks a unified infrastructure to help these children who are not identified as having mental health problems and who do not receive services end up in jail . Children and families are suffering because of missed opportunities for prevention and early identification, fragmented treatment services, and low priorities for resources . " ( Surgeon Generals Conference on Mental Health, June 2000) This program seeks to provide early intervention for children suffering form psychiatric & mental health disorders to prevent debilitation effects of mental illness and maintain function . 2. a) Identify similar programs that are currently serving the needs of your targeted population ; b) Explain how these existing programs are under-serving the targeted population of your program . Similar programs available for Indian River County residents are limited to Suncoast Mental Health Center which provides a child psychiatrist for 2 days a month for up to 8 - 16 hours a month . Center for Emotional and Behavioral Health currently has 350 patients in the outpatient clinic . The number of children enrolled in fiscal year 2003 was 300, representing a 16 percent increase in children accepting service . As per the national trend data, this may only represent 50 percent of the children needing services . Pediatricians in the area re not comfortable treating psychiatric disorders and defer such treatment to psychiatrists . Therefore it is a reasonable assumption that children ' s mental health services will continue to be a priority need . Center for Emotional and Behavioral Health was able to accommodate for the growth because of funding from the Children ' s Services Advisory Committee . 6