Children in the child welfare system frequently experience trauma within the caregiving relationship. These traumatic experiences may be compounded by system trauma and place these children at high risk of emotional disorders and placement in out-of-home (OOH) mental health treatment programs. This article reviews the literature on trauma and…

Recent studies have highlighted the progressively increasing number of children prescribed psychotropic medication, while findings have illustrated significantly greater usage among child welfare-involved children. These findings have raised serious concerns among mental health and child welfare professionals as well as the general public. To…

Using a telephone survey, this study examined the experiences of 100 foster mothers who receive aid through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Foster mothers reported numerous difficulties with TANF, including frequent sanctions and case closings, limited work and training opportunities, and pervasive material hardships. Foster…

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports model, first introduced into public schools, has been extended to alternative settings. This article highlights applying PBIS to day treatment and residential treatment education programs increasingly challenged to serve seriously emotionally disturbed youth whose risk factors have become more…

The use of psychotropic medications in youth with emotional disturbances in state custody is increasing and presents unique challenges concerning consent and oversight. We examine various means that state child welfare agencies use to provide consent for and oversight of psychotropic medications for children in state custody and describe benefits…

Description and examples of 7 ways to use play techniques in psychoanalytically-oriented therapy for emotionally disturbed children. Goals include emotional ventilation, communication, and development of skills. (MH)

In 2000, more than 60 non-profit agencies, health care providers, government officials, and community advocates in Tarrant County, Texas, came together to work for systemic change in the mental health care system. The coalition, known as the Mental Health Connection, began working toward a "No Wrong Door" approach to mental health…

Reviews the preliminary results of a research study designed to analyze the critical factors in the adoption of 78 older hard-to-place youths with severe emotional and learning disabilities. A high percentage of emotionally disturbed youths benefit from ties with adoptive families. Such placements are complex with varied outcomes. (Author/BB)

Discusses problems of defining suicide and differentiating suicide from accidental death, examining presuicidal conditions and behavior in young children, and describing young children's concepts of death. Offers suggestions for prevention. (RH)

The framework presented in this article about the therapeutic use of program activities for emotionally disturbed children is based, in part, on an understanding of phase development in groups. The framework is outlined according to assessment, program activity selection and intervention. (MS)

Demonstrates how the use of the California Psychological Inventory, as an adjunct to interviews and reference checks, improved the likelihood of selecting the best potential child care workers for emotionally and/or behaviorally disturbed adolescents. This inventory correctly distinguished between characteristics associated with the groups of…

This paper describes a process of involving the family in a residential treatment center program, a treatment modality to which the Wisconsin Children's Treatment Center has become committed. (Author/WY)

Among professionals, the use of the time-out room for the control of disturbed children in residential centers evokes varied and sometimes opposing opinions. This study is based on a questionnaire submitted to 50 residential treatment centers. (Editor)

A view room was used in treatment of 2 dysfunctional children. Social workers found it useful for peer consultation, which benefited children in therapy. (NH)