Approximately 4 million American children (ages 9-18) have been diagnosed with a severe emotional disturbance (SED). Only a small fraction of these youngsters are currently receiving appropriate mental health services (NMK 1994). The Children's Mental Health Services Program is specifically directed at the more than I million of the youngsters diagnosed with a SED, who are currently in the nation's foster care system, juvenile justice facilities and special education programs.
The Program was established five years ago m response to the severe lack of adequate community services and supports available to children with SED -- which often results in inappropriate admissions to hospitals or @tutional care far away from their families. The grants are administered by the Center for Mental Health Services (CNffiS) under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For 1998, Congress appropriated $73 million to support 31 grant programs in 22 states.
The objectives of the Children's Mental Health Services Program are to:
(I.) keep youngsters out of psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment
facilities; and
(2.) allow these youngsters to remain in their communities - and with their
families.
The program assists states and localities in producing community-based protocols, intake procedures and service mechanisms. Direct services provided through these initiatives include: diagnostic and evaluation services; outpatient services provided in a clinic, school or office; emergency services; intensive home-based services for children and their families; intensive day-treatment services; respite care; therapeutic foster care; and services that assist the child in making the transition from the services received as a child, to the services to be received as an adult.
REDUCED INVOLVEMENT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM: The national outcomes data that are being collected on this program have shown a 46% improvement in the number of children who reported to have no contact with law enforcement while receiving program services.
IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES: After six. months of receiving program services, the percent of children whose grades were rated "Average" or "Above Average" increased from 55% at intake to 62% -- an improvement of 13%. The percent of children attending school regularly improved from 73% at intake to 78%, representing an increase of 7%.
IMPROVED FUNCTIONAL ABILITY: Children enrolled in the program demonstrate a 20% reduction in level of impairment in which their mental health or substance abuse problems are disruptive to their functioning.