Child Mental Health in the '70's.

The Center for Studies of Child and Family Mental Health has made an assessment of national programs during the last decade, and found that the Nation took the course of child-centered intervention programs for mental health. There were many startling and promising programs developed during that time such as Head Start. However, many of the measured rapid gains were quickly lost as programs were phased out or studies were completed. A close evaluation and assessment revealed that those programs having parental involvement sustained the child's measured gains and often improved upon them; thus, family-centered preventive mental health programs are to be the major focus for the 1970's. Society can begin to help both the child and the family by strengthening the family through reform of welfare legislation, instituting procedures to encourage low income men and women to remain with families, establishing a guaranteed income, and providing family services and education. The family's eco-system can be studied and supportive forces such as the extended family, churches, social networks, and schools in the environment can be pinpointed and integrated in treatment plans. The challenge to families and those who care about families then is to increase the incidence of success and diminish the frequency of failure. A new "Galilean" approach to research must be taken in the 1970's. (Author/JM)