Modular therapies are systematic approaches to mental health treatment based on therapeutic elements common to multiple evidence-based practices. Given the flexibility and efficacy demonstrated in outpatient settings, modular therapies may be a feasible and effective approach to mental health treatment in schools. We conducted a systematic…

"Data Trends" reports present summaries of research on mental health services for children and adolescents and their families. The article summarized in this "Data Trends" presents a model of effectiveness for wraparound teams, derived from a review of research and theory on effective teams. Using this framework, the authors discuss some of the…

Noting that treatment foster care is a recent and expanding multisystem service, this article summarizes the empirical literature on treatment foster care and offers suggestions for future research directions. Results from program evaluations and experimental research suggest that treatment foster care is an effective alternative to residential…

Evaluates the usefulness of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as a routine measure to screen for emotional and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents referred to a community child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). Results reveal that the SDQ is sensitive in detecting emotional and behavioral problems and may…

Provides a selective review of relevant research on developmental psychopathology and its relevance for group care programming; a summary overview of major themes in residential care outcome research; and suggestions for future research on group care with implications for direct practice, service organization, and policy. (TJQ)

This introductory article analyzes the challenges facing researchers as they respond to the ideas that guide family-centered services and incorporate these themes into research focused on improving services for children with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders. The fit between traditional mental health research and family centered services…

Introduces and describes 12 peer-reviewed articles that were originally presented at the 21st Annual Teacher Educators for Children with Behavior Disorders conference in November 1997. The articles deal with the education and treatment of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Discipline, placement, and prevention are addressed. (CR)

This paper examines school restructuring, the national education goals, and opportunities to improve the quality of education for adolescents with behavioral disorders. The paper favors adjustment as a goal along with achievement, a focus on broad outcomes of education, and links between mental health and education. (JDD)

This article outlines problems associated with large mental hospitals, describes how knowledge gained from these problems can be used to create alternative treatment programs, and introduces the papers in this special issue on community-based treatment programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. (JDD)

This article examines how researchers can apply analytical and methodological tools traditionally used in health policy analysis to study the multiple levels of systems-of-care impacts for students with emotional and behavior disorders. Where possible, results from existing systems-of-care education studies illustrate how these analyses and…

The special needs of young adults with concurrent mental health and substance abuse problems are discussed. This article presents federal initiatives and research findings, and describes state-of-the-art approaches to treatment and rehabilitation. Strategies for training mental health professionals to diagnose and treat dually disabled persons are…

This article traces historical attempts to form a comprehensive child mental health policy in the United States and discusses the latest unsuccessful attempts at the creation of such a policy through the managed behavioral healthcare revolution and the Child and Adolescent Service System Program and Child Mental Health Services initiative.…

This article explores how the school-based wraparound approach and a school-wide systems approach to positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) work together to create more effective school environments and improved outcomes for students with or at risk of behavioral challenges. Complementary aspects of these wraparound and PBIS…

This article examines federal, state, and local initiatives that have influenced child welfare policy and practice on a national scale, with particular emphasis on those policies that offer opportunities for better coordination of services between mental health and child welfare agencies. The special circumstances of child welfare clients are…

This article presents a framework to be used in studying public policy in children's mental health. It focuses the stages of policy development and implementation, the relationships among different governmental levels, the relationships among different service sectors, and variables affecting the likelihood a policy will achieve its intended…