Kids on Welfare System Lack Mental Health Support

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows children involved in the child welfare system do not receive the counseling services to prevent emotional and behavioral problems.

According to the study authors, several studies have shown high rates of emotional and behavioral problems among children in the welfare system. They believe that if mental health services were given to children in a timely manner, it may reduce long-term negative consequences for these children.

Michael S. Hurlburt, Ph.D., of the Child and Adolescent Services Research Center at Children's Hospital in San Diego, and colleagues examined 2,823 child welfare cases of children between ages 2 and 14. They looked at the number of mental health services used within one year after contact with a child welfare agency. The cases included children who were removed from their homes and those who remained with their families but still had a child welfare case open.

Researchers found 42.4 percent of children had clinical-level Child Behavior Checklist scores, which indicates a need for help. However, only 28.3 percent of children received specialty mental health services. Younger children, children remaining in their home, and children of certain races and ethnicities had lower rates of mental health service.

However, better coordination between local child welfare and mental health agencies was associated with better mental health service use among children and decreased differences in rates of service use between white and black children.

"Younger children and those remaining in their homes could benefit from increased specialty mental health services. They have disproportionately low rates of service use, despite high levels of need. Increases in interagency coordination may lead to more efficient allocation of service resources to children with the greatest need and to decreased racial/ethnic disparities," the authors conclude.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: The Archives of General Psychiatry, 2004; 61:1217-1224