title: Fostering ecologic perspectives in child psychiatry.
abstract: In this article, the authors seek to instill a readiness and enthusiasm for appreciating the many-faceted influences in the lives and struggles of developing children and their families. A framework for clinical investigation is proposed that draws from ecologic, ethnographic and attributional perspectives and therein augments and extends contemporary notions of culturally competent care. This framework can be used to help illuminate the culturally-relevant geography of the child's world such as: 1) health care and social welfare zones, 2) child activity zones, and 3) cultural and religious spheres of influence. Training tools and strategies are offered for building insightful, respectful and convivial co-investigator partnerships with patients and their families.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Washington School of Medicine, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105-0371, USA. storck@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Storck
authors.forename: Ann Vander
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Stoep
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008602:Mental Healing; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment