The findings of "Mental Disorders and Disabilities Among Low-Income Children" also noted that the number of children who do receive assistance has been rising in accordance with overall mental health trends and rising poverty rates.
"Federal assistance programs for children with mental disabilities are being underutilized when they could help cover the costs to improve the health and wellbeing of the child and family," said Amy Houtrow, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatrics, Pitt School of Medicine, who served on the committee that authored the report. "It appears that more kids could benefit from available funding, and the medical community could help eligible families become aware of the benefits and how to apply."
For the report, the committee examined the U.S. Social Security Administration's Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which provides benefits to low-income people with disabilities.