title: Statewide Implementation of Parenting with Love and Limits Among Youth with Co-Existing Internalizing and Externalizing Functional Impairments Reduces Return to Service Rates and Treatment Costs.
abstract: Many community mental health (CMH) systems contain inefficiencies, contributing to unmet need for services among youth. Using a quasi-experimental research design, we examined the implementation of an adapted structural-strategic family intervention, Parenting with Love and Limits, in a state CMH system to increase efficiency of services to youth with co-existing internalizing and externalizing functional impairments (PLL n = 296; Treatment-As-Usual n = 296; 54% male; 81% Caucasian). Youth receiving PLL experienced shorter treatment durations and returned to CMH services at significantly lower rates than youth receiving treatment-as-usual. They also demonstrated significant decreases in internalizing and externalizing symptoms over time. Findings lay the foundation for further examination of the role of an adapted structural-strategic family treatment in increasing the efficiency of CMH systems.
authors.affiliation: Couple and Family Therapy Program, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, 310 N. Whittington Pkwy Burhans Hall 134, Louisville, KY, 40222, USA. emma.sterrett@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Emma M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sterrett-Hong
authors.affiliation: Couple and Family Therapy Program, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, 310 N. Whittington Pkwy Burhans Hall 134, Louisville, KY, 40222, USA.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.affiliation: Hornby Zeller Associates, Inc., Troy, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kiaer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Children; Mental health system; Treatment cost; Treatment duration