Family-centered services: implications for mental health administration and research.
Efforts to move the system of care for children with serious emotional disorders toward community-based alternatives has prompted a growing recognition of the need for supportive services for families. This article examines the shifts in policy and administrative practice that are needed in order to move toward a family-centered system of care. Proactive administrative support is particularly important in this system shift. Four important barriers to a family-centered system of care are examined: (1) efforts have tended to focus on the child as the unit of services, rather than on the family; (2) efforts have tended to focus primarily on mental health services, rather than considering the full range of services needed by the child and family; (3) efforts have tended to emphasize formal services, often ignoring the support provided by informal networks; and (4) the resources and expertise of parents and other family members have not been used. New roles for parents--which involve working with administrators and researchers are discussed.
Friesen
B J
BJ
Portland State University, OR 97207.
Koroloff
N M
NM
D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005190:Family; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D012106:Research; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States