Family Participation in Systems Change.

The investigation of family participation in the changing children's mental health care system is not a commonly explored theme. The study in this article documents the efforts of family members involved with statewide family networks (SFNs) seeking legislative and systems change. Data from the National Evaluation of Statewide Family Networks demonstrate the contributions made and the processes facilitated by these families. These data highlight the legislative, policy development, systems change, and funding strategies used by SFNs to enhance the children's mental health care system. As expected of a radical structuralist organizations, SFNs seek fundamental changes. Their collective social action is part of an emerging, orchestrated effort by affected professionals and families of children with serious emotional and behavioral disorders to establish better service systems that are responsive to children, flexible. seamless, and sufficient in resources. The results of this study provide empirical evidence of the hard work and contributions made by family members in the science of enhanced collaboration between families and professionals, and improved service systems overall. Also highlighted are implications for future study on how the contributions of family members can effect changes in key areas of children's mental health through participation in SFNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]