'Columbia University Libraries/Information Services'
Doi
Abstract
This report documents critical issues in children's mental health policy and service delivery from the perspective of stakeholders in the family and youth movement. The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) convened the meeting that this report summarizes, Best Practices in Policy for Children's Mental Health Consultation Meeting with Stakeholders: Family and Youth Perspectives. It was designed to solicit guidance from families and youth involved in the child mental health field to support a research study entitled Unclaimed Children Revisited. Among the key findings of the meeting was that through a family and youth lens, many effective practices, some with supporting policy, have emerged but not been taken to scale. Another set of core findings was that family members and youth acknowledged the gains made in children's mental health but cited obstacles to improved outcomes for children and families, such as service limitations, provider attitudes and training, lack of services integration, fiscal constraints, a weak infrastructure, and a sparse array of services. The report describes participants' perspectives on the status of family and youth support and advocacy systems. It also highlights selected current innovative interventions directed or heavily influenced by parents, youth, and community advocates that strengthen family and youth influence in mental health policy and service planning and advance improved mental health outcomes for children, youth, and families
