title: Improving community-based mental health care for children: translating knowledge into action.
abstract: There is urgent need for improvement in community-based mental health care for children and families. Multiple studies have documented serious limitations in the effectiveness of "usual care." Fortunately, many empirically-supported strategies to improve care have been developed, and thus there is now a great deal of knowledge available to address this significant public health problem. The goal of this selective review is to highlight and synthesize that empirically-supported knowledge to stimulate and facilitate the needed translation of knowledge into action. The review provides a sound foundation for constructing improved services by consolidating descriptive data on the status quo in children's mental health care, as well as evidence for an array of promising strategies to improve (a) Service access and engagement; (b) Delivery of evidence-based practices; and (c) Outcome accountability. A multi-level framework is used to highlight recommended care improvement targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of School, Family, and Mental Health Professions, School of Leadership and Education Sciences, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110, USA, agarland@sandiego.edu
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haine-Schlagel
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brookman-Frazee
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baker-Ericzen
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trask
authors.forename: Kya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fawley-King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000379:methods; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D058996:Quality Improvement