1. A multi-state study on mental health evaluation for children entering foster care
- Author
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Thomas I. Mackie, Christopher Bellonci, Laurel K. Leslie, Munya Hayek, Christina Mulé, Justeen Hyde, and Jennifer Bakan
- Subjects
Male ,Mental Health Services ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Health informatics ,Health administration ,Foster Home Care ,Consistency (negotiation) ,Nursing ,State (polity) ,Medicine ,Humans ,Mass Screening ,Child ,Qualitative Research ,media_common ,Health Services Needs and Demand ,Multi state ,business.industry ,Public health ,Health Policy ,Mental Disorders ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Infant ,Mental health ,United States ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Foster care ,Mental Health ,Child, Preschool ,Practice Guidelines as Topic ,Female ,Guideline Adherence ,Pshychiatric Mental Health ,business ,Needs Assessment - Abstract
When compared with the general United States child population, children entering foster care have elevated rates of mental health problems. This study examines: (1) state approaches to mental health evaluations for children entering foster care for the first time, (2) the consistency of these approaches with professional guidelines, and (3) whether the specific instruments endorsed are supported by available evidence. Semi-structured qualitative interviews and a document review of available protocols/policies were conducted for 47 states and the District of Columbia. All states endorsed mental health evaluations; variation existed between states in approach, timeframe, administrator, and specific instruments endorsed.
- Published
- 2013