Challenges for a System of Care

Abstract

A system of care is a function-specific, rather than agency-specific approach defined as a “comprehensive spectrum of mental health and other necessary services which are organized into a coordinated network to meet the multiple and changing needs of children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbances and their families” (Stroul & Friedman, 1986). A system of care provides a mental health delivery system for children with SED with a wide array of accessible, community-based services that focus on children's individual needs, include the family in treatment planning, and provide culturally competent services. System of care services are provided by multiple child serving agencies and are collaborative and coordinated (Stroul & Friedman, 1986).

Citation

Biebel, K. and Geller, J.L. (2006), "Challenges for a System of Care", Fisher, W.H. (Ed.) Research on Community-Based Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents (Research in Community and Mental Health, Vol. 14), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 179-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0192-0812(06)14009-X