Search

The federal Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program was initiated in 1992 to provide grants to states, communities, territories, and Indian tribes to develop systems of care to serve children and adolescents with or at risk for emotional disorders and their families. As part of the national evaluation of this program, a study was undertaken to assess the ability of funded sites to sustain their systems of care beyond the federal grant period. The study involved a web survey and telephone interviews with local and state respondents to examine the extent to which key components of systems of care were maintained during the period in which federal funds were phasing out and during the post grant period. Study results demonstrate positive and negative changes that occurred in the communities which are included in the sample, with respect to maintaining the availability of each service included in the broad service array, the implementation of system of care principles, the system of care infrastructure, and the achievement of system of care goals. In addition, results identify factors that contribute to or impede the ability to sustain systems of care, and the effectiveness of various strategies for sustainability. Study findings offer guidance not only to federally funded system of care communities but also to non-funded communities engaged in system of care development to enhance their ability to sustain systems of care for this population over time. Findings will also assist federal, state, and local policymakers, technical assistance providers, family members, advocates, and other key stakeholders to more effectively support the development of viable, sustainable systems of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the Health Care Reform Tracking Project, a national study designed to describe and analyze state health care reforms in United States and their impact on children and adolescents with emotional disorders and their families. Background information and functions of Health Care Reform Tracking Project; Information about the baseline survey conducted by the project to identify and describe state reforms in 1995; Results of the state survey.

This article presents the results of a descriptive study of community-based services for children and adolescents who are severely emotionally disturbed. The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) and was designed to obtain state-of-the-art information about several promising and innovative treatment approaches emerging in the field-home-based services, crisis services, and therapeutic foster care. The methodology involved literature reviews, a survey to identify programs, detailed questionnaires to learn about identified programs, and site visits to a sample of programs in each category. Two of the service components explored in the study are described in this article. Home-based services include intensive counseling, support, and case management services provided on an outreach basis to troubled children and their families in their own home. Both crisis-oriented and longer-term home-based models are discussed. The crisis services described include a variety of innovative residential crisis services which have been highly successful as alternatives to more restrictive placements in crisis situations. The authors emphasize that these services should not be seen as panaceas but as essential components of a comprehensive, community-based system of care for emotionally disturbed youngsters and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how the interrelation between psychiatric research and mental health care system reforms in the U.S. can be improved. It highlights various issues discussed at the conference titled "Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Issues and Solutions," held in September 2009. It offers suggestions including federal funding for collaboration of research with mental health policy, developing sabbatical programs, and creating an information network of research and practice.