Discusses the National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) epidemiological studies of childhood and adolescent psychiatric disorders. Notes the significant number of students with diagnosable psychiatric disorders uncovered by the NIMH. Concludes with an agenda for action at the school, district, and governmental levels to include school…

Gender differences in referral for child mental health services were explored through a survey of attitudes among 135 elementary teachers. Teachers were less likely to refer students with good academic performance, and tended to expect girls to transcend internalizing problems through maturation. Externalizing problems were thought to merit…

Describes technical-assistance program offered by University of Kansas School of Social Welfare to community social-service and mental-health agencies. Describes roles of style and communication strategies in technical assistance. Discusses assistance methods, planning, and change. Indicates preliminary success of Kansas effort. (TES)

Describes a multiservice intervention program, Teaching Interpersonal Expertise to Strengthen Systems (TIES), that is designed to support efforts of Head Start children, families, and staff, and improve the access of these individuals to mental health services. (BB)

Presents a content analysis of prevention definitions in prevention literature. Examines the pros and cons of the traditional trilogy (primary, secondary, and tertiary) of prevention definitions, along with a description of key concepts, such as end-states, timing, targets, and eligibility criteria. Proposes a conceptual alternative to the…

The Special Education and Treatment Program in Frederick County, Maryland, uses storytelling as a connection between reading and healing for elementary-age children with serious emotional disturbances. Increased academic and emotional development is achieved through interagency cooperation, curriculum compacting, academic follow-up, therapeutic…

Describes the essential features of a health care system that can meet the special needs of children in out-of-home care. Discusses some of the major recent changes brought about by welfare and health care reform. Notes that it remains to be seen whether the quality of services will improve as a result of these reforms. (Author)

Describes survey of mental-health needs of young people in England and Wales considered for secure placement. Findings confirm that highly disturbed young people may present to a wide range of services, and that their mental-health needs are neither well recognized, widely understood, nor adequately met. (Author/JDM)

Reviews two general classes of strategies designed to reduce premature attrition and enhance treatment. Research on psychotherapy preparatory techniques indicates that these educational techniques are effective in reducing early-treatment attrition and may be especially effective with populations at high risk for dropout. (Author/GCP)

Presents how the state of Kentucky has approached the escalating expenditures and overcrowded programs and facilities for juvenile justice and mental health care services. Discusses four state legislative initiatives developed to care for at-risk and delinquent youth that have greatly enhanced and expanded Kentucky's system of community-based…

This article discusses the confusion, inaccuracies, and misperceptions arising from the term "infant mental health," and proposes a framework for the use of the term. This framework sets out a language and clear distinctions among the categories of promotion, relationship-based preventive intervention, and treatment. (Contains references.)…

Explores policy deficiencies that perpetuate the status quo in school mental health service provision, discussing: a framework for moving forward; school-community collaboration and school-linked and school-based services; how to move to a three-component model for connecting with school reform; the need to address barriers to learning; and the…

Conducted focus groups with 37 high school students receiving mental health services, 24 students not receiving services, 28 parents, and 47 therapists, administrators, and health care staff to gauge the quality and effectiveness of an expanded school mental health program. Identifies effective aspects of the therapy and discusses implications for…

Students with emotional disabilities are attending institutions of higher education in increasing numbers. To assist counseling centers in their role of reviewing documentation for accommodation requests, suggestions are offered about who may be qualified to provide the evaluation and what information the evaluation should contain. (Contains 26…

Evaluates the effects of two engagement interventions on the initial attendance and ongoing retention in child mental health services of 109 primarily children of color and their families. Interventions were associated with increases in attendance. Implications for future research and recommendations for modifying procedures in outpatient child…