For youth with emotional and behavioral challenges, there is a trend of minority overrepresentation in restrictive settings. "System of care" refers to an approach that emphasizes cultural competence and providing services in the least restrictive setting. This study investigated the relationship between placement restrictiveness,…

To describe the current status of special education and services for children and youths with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) in Singapore, the authors highlight the country's overall structure of special education and mental health, identification of and intervention with children and youths with E/BD, perspectives about E/BD, and…

This article addresses the need for communities to develop integrated service systems for troubled children and youth. The varieties of educational services presently offered are reviewed and found to be inadequate. An integrated service system is proposed, comprised of personal services, services for caregivers and families, educational and…

This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" contains the following articles: (1) "CWLA's Position on Residential Care"; (2) "The View of Adolescent Life: Perceptions and Realities" ( Lisa Moore Willis); (3) "Assessing Youth Preferences for Adult Behavior in Residential Care: A Replication" (Jack T. Bowers, III, Robert J. Jones, Gary D.…

A study of 83 children (ages 10-18) with behavior disorders in seven types of programs (parent training programs, outpatient clinic, family preservation programs, treatment foster care, residential group home, acute-care shelter, and inpatient psychiatric hospital) found a high level of correspondence between program restrictiveness and severity…

This study examined the degree to which local systems of care in Vermont shared responsibility for children and adolescents and four service delivery outcomes over a 4-year period. Results indicated that greater caseload integration is associated with less referral for residential treatment and higher rates of incarceration. (Contains references.)…

This paper explores the experiences of three young people with emotional and behavioral challenges and their families as they entered, participated in, and completed a community-based system of care. Using a case narrative approach, the characteristics and experiences of the children and families who successfully completed the Dawn Project system…

Key elements of a continuum of services for individuals with autism and other severe behavior disorders are described, focusing on development of a strong central organization; funding; staff recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation; program evaluation; outreach parent training; home-based early intervention; vocational training;…

This collection of papers presented at a 1996 conference on children's mental health focuses on case management services. Papers have the following titles and authors: (1) "Providing Intensive Child Case Management Services: What Do Case Managers Do with Their Time?" (Gail B. Werrbach and James Harrod); (2) "Outcome-Oriented Case…

This study of risk characteristics of 100 Illinois children/adolescents with emotional/behavior disorders admitted to programs to prevent the need for residential placements found that most of the children were in single parent families; almost 85% had average or above average intelligence; and almost half were exposed to divorce, poverty,…

An intervention designed to address barriers to access to children's mental health services for low-income families was implemented in three Oregon counties. Paraprofessionals provided families with information, emotional support, and tangible assistance. Families in the intervention group (n=96) were significantly more likely to initiate…

During the implementation of a cross-agency, co-located service delivery system, the number of youths eligible for public mental health services in Santa Barbara County increased from 956 to 1,826 and the number of youths eligible for special education services for students with emotional/behavioral disorders increased from 101 to 204. (Contains…

This paper presents results of an evaluation study of the Fostering Individualized Assistance Program (FIAP), an effort to provide individualized wraparound supports and services to foster children with emotional/behavioral disturbances and their families (foster, biological, and/or adoptive). The program aims to stabilize child placement and…

A study examined the long-term (3 year) treatment outcomes of all adolescents (n=2,481) who received services in Vermont's statewide systems of care. Recipients of services had substantially elevated rates of incarceration and hospitalization but maternity rates in the treatment groups were not different from other young women. (Contains…

A systems perspective on the development of disruptive behavioral disorders is presented and discussed with an emphasis on correlated constraints. The concept of correlated constraints suggests that behavior development involves the interconnected contributions of multiple factors working together as a system. Implications are considered in…