Providing Mental Health Servies to Youth Where They Are: School and Community Based Approaches

Barriers to community mental health centers (such as stigma, waiting lists) prevent youth from receiving necessary services. Providing Mental Health Services to Youth Where They Are, identifies the reform that is needed in children's mental health service. As the issues of systems of mental health care have received increased attention, so has the recognition of the benefits of providing services to youth where they are: that is, in natural settings, such as home or school. Principles to include in systems of mental health care for youth are as equally important as actually reaching the youth: involvement of families, school staff, community leaders, and clergy. The development of programs are matched to the developmental, cultural, and other needs of youth in a community so they mesh with existing services. This book describes how these principles play out in school-, home-, and community-based mental health programs for youth.