Youth Insight

For the past 20 years, especially since the introduction of system-of-care philosophy and practices, there have been tensions between community-based and residential treatment providers that serve children, youths, and families in need of mental health care. Community-based mental health providers have voiced concern that their residential treatment colleagues keep children too long and fail to demonstrate the effectiveness of their services. Residential treatment providers have asserted that their community-based colleagues do not collaboratively support their efforts, assist with discharge planning, or provide intensive service options as necessary follow-up. Families and youth have often expressed mixed reactions and opinions about both sets of mental health providers, asking that all providers become more family driven and youth guided and encouraging them to create a more integrated array of services.

» Read more: Bridging the Gap Between Community and Residential Mental Health Treatment

Mental health disorders and mental illnesses affect a greater number of children and juveniles than many people are aware of. These emotional and behavioral disorders can have profound negative effects on the growth and development of children, especially when they go unnoticed and untreated. A greater proportion of children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have mental health problems than children and youth in the general population.

-50% of children and youth in the child welfare system have mental health problems.
-67% to 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health disorder.

» Read more: The Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and Mental Illness in Children