March 14, 2007

The Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program

The mental health services for children and their families, called the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families, found that children's behavioral and emotional strengths increased by using this program, law enforcement contacts decreased, improvement in school performance was related to improvements in behavioral and emotional problems, and youth with substance abuse experienced significantly greater improvement in their overall functioning. More accessible services through this specific program resulted in improvements in children's behavioral and emotional problems and children's internalizing problems. The program found some funding issues that were solved through community-based services that accounted for the largest part of total costs, and flexible funds were used to improve children's living environments and provide needed resources to their families. After looking at the results of the Comprehensive Community, the program scored higher than non-system of care comparisons and services were more family-focused in the care community program than others. Macro International, Inc concludes that caregivers and youth were satisfied with the Comprehensive Community program and services.