Evidence-based Practices Addressed in Community-based Children's Mental Health Clinical Supervision.
BACKGROUND
Clinical supervision is the principal method of training for psychotherapeutic practice, however there is virtually no research on supervision practice in community settings. Of particular interest is the role supervision might play in facilitating implementation of evidence-based (EB) care in routine care settings.


OBJECTIVE
This study examines the format and functions of clinical supervision sessions in routine care, as well as the extent to which supervision addresses psychotherapeutic practice elements common to EB care for children with disruptive behavior problems, who represent the majority of patients served in publicly-funded routine care settings.


METHODS
Supervisors (n=7) and supervisees (n=12) from four publicly-funded community-based child mental health clinics reported on 130 supervision sessions.


RESULTS
Supervision sessions were primarily individual in-person meetings lasting one hour. The most common functions included case conceptualization and therapy interventions. Coverage of practice elements common to EB treatments was brief.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the fact that most children presenting to public mental health services are referred for disruptive behavior problems, supervision sessions are infrequently focused on practice elements consistent with EB treatments for this population. Supervision is a promising avenue through which training in EB practices could be supported to improve the quality of care for children in community-based "usual care" clinics.
University of California, San Diego; San Diego State University; Child and Adolescent Services Research Center at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego.
Erin C
EC
Accurso
San Diego State University, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego.
Robin M
RM
Taylor
University of California, San Diego, Child and Adolescent Services Research Center at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego.
Ann F
AF
Garland
child mental health services; clinical supervision; evidence-based care