Westborough Local woman visits Capitol Hill Group discusses youth mental health with senators

Westborough resident Eileen Antalek went to Washington earlier this month to meet with members of Congress at Capitol Hill as part of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs.

Antalek is an educational consultant with Westborough-based Educational Directions, Inc. Her trip to Washington focused on the need for therapeutic treatment for at-risk children and teenagers. She traveled as part of an 18-member delegation from the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, which also included members from Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Wisconsin and Utah.

“We go to the Hill to educate legislators on the importance of our programs, which help fill the gap of mental health programs for adolescents and young adults not being met by publicly-funded programs,” said the organization’s Executive Director Cliff Brownstein.

Antalek met with Sen. Mike Lee, of Utah and with staff members from the offices of Sens. Mark Kirk and Dick Durbin of Illinois, Roy Blunt of Missouri and Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts.

“In our meetings, we discussed the importance of therapeutic treatment options for at-risk adolescents and teenagers, the credentials of NATSAP-member programs, and the organization’s desire to work collaboratively with congressional leaders on more improved, effective legislation,” Antalek said.