Models of case management for working with young children: implications for mental health nurses

The care of children with behavioural disorders/mental illnesses is an important and emerging role for mental health nurses. Unfortunately, there is little evidence on which to base their practice. Children, because of their rapid emotional, physical, and cognitive development, and their dependence on their families, need special consideration in their mental health care. The limited evidence available indicates that this special consideration should include a focus, not only on the child, but also on the parents and social and school networks of the child. Evidence from the adult literature indicates the most effective case management models are the ones in which the case manager offers as many services as possible, including talking therapies. This also seems to be true when working with children. Mental health nurses, because of their background and commitment to holistic care, are ideally suited to offer this type of service. However, mental health nurses have not been good at articulating what they do. This can limit the recognition of the contribution they make and their opportunities

A better path to permanency for children in out-of-home care

This article reports selected findings from a five-year, comprehensive evaluation of a program designed based on principles and practices found to be most predictive of successful family reunification. The study reported here matched families in the program with families receiving standard state reunification services. Findings indicate that program and non-program children were nearly equally likely to be reunified. However, program children were reunified or achieved an alternative permanent placement sooner, and experienced fewer moves while in care than children in the comparison group. Moreover, program families were less likely to experience a re-referral to child welfare authorities after they were reunified.Permanency Child welfare Family reunification Foster care