Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-104)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-95) and index.

This research comprises three linked projects stemming from the first project which aimed to define “long-term” pupil absence from school and discover the principal reasons for such absence. The second project focussed on the area of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), an issue emerging from the first project. The CAMHS 4-Tier Strategic Framework (or “CAMHS Concept”), including links between CAMHS providers were examined and referral pathways investigated and measured against published criteria. The third project explored the new CAMHS Strategic Framework and considered whether implementation problems were to blame for its lack of transformational impact.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The research base regarding the effectiveness of systems of care for children with serious emotional disturbances is limited. The incremental development of systems of care in Indiana provides an opportunity to compare the outcomes of children served in these child and family wraparound teams with the outcomes of a matched sample of children receiving usual public mental health services. Functional assessment data from a state database was examined using logistic regression models. The level of development of wraparound services was used as a fidelity measure.

This study began with the authors' interest in the Portland Public Schools' program for Emotionally Handicapped children. Originally, the researchers were interested in assessing behavioral characteristics and changes among children in that program and in relating these variables to the kind and extent of parental involvement. Such a study was particularly timely, it was felt, since some schools were considering eliminating the parent involvement component of the program and there was discussion of phasing out the entire program as it then existed in favor of "mainstreaming." The researchers soon discovered the paucity of research information relating to program effects on children after their termination and realized that program changes might well happen for political and subjective reasons in the absence of research data. Unfortunately, recent changes in Oregon Law relating to confidentiality, in addition to administrative arid funding difficulties in the schools forced an upper level decision to curtail outside research in the school system. In September of 1976 the authors were left with an interest and a partially formulated research design but no program within which to apply their design. At this point the researchers contacted the Childrens' Psychiatric Day Treatment Center in Portland (C.P.D.T.C.) and presented a preliminary plan for research to that agency's Administrative Committee. They received the agency's approval to pursue research relating to children who had been in that program and were able to begin the present study. in early October. The present study undertakes to measure behavior changes among the forty-one children who had left the Center during the previous two years and to relate the stability of these changes to subsequent events in the childrens' home lives and to the degree of their parents' involvement in their treatment.

The purpose of this study was to identify to what degree specific factors influence the level of satisfaction experienced by foster parents whose foster children are recieving mental health services from agencies that they have been referred to by a Coming of Age Foster Family Agency.

This thesis has examined community attitudes toward mental health in Delaware County. The paper also focused upon the community's awareness of, and attitudes toward the Delaware County Child Guidance Clinic. The method employed in this study was survey research.The findings suggested that the attitudes of the sample population concerning the area of mental health were positive. The findings also indicated that generally the respondents were reluctant to suggest professional assistance for problems of mental or emotional health. While the majority of respondents were aware that the Child Guidance Clinic existed, most of the sample were unfamiliar, with specific services which the facility provides. Further, the findings indicated that the individual's level of education was significantly related to that individual's general attitude toward mental health and his awareness of the Child Guidance Clinic.In summary, the results of this study indicated a public whose attitude was positive concerning the area of mental health but who is uninformed about the local facilities provided for the treatment of such disorders. Programs designed to provide public education in this area would be of great assistance.

<p>The purpose of this paper was to investigate how the Child mental Health Service, BUP Ektorp, textually constructs its demarcation, by studying case records from the first evaluations of the patients. The main questions were: In what way are the competitors and their problems represented in the texts, how is the solution justified and explained, and how do these factors relate to each other? The method being used is discourse analysis, influenced by Mörkenstam. The main conclusions are that the demarcation consists of a number of onceptions about the child, the parents, and the therapist. The conceptions, together with the way the problem is being described, justifies the proposed solution, proclaiming termination of the case.</p>

The purpose of this paper was to investigate how the Child mental Health Service, BUP Ektorp, textually constructs its demarcation, by studying case records from the first evaluations of the patients. The main questions were: In what way are the competitors and their problems represented in the texts, how is the solution justified and explained, and how do these factors relate to each other? The method being used is discourse analysis, influenced by Mörkenstam. The main conclusions are that the demarcation consists of a number of onceptions about the child, the parents, and the therapist. The conceptions, together with the way the problem is being described, justifies the proposed solution, proclaiming termination of the case.

Child and adolescent mental health represents a key area of concern and public health relevance. Mental health disorders are one of the most prevalent illnesses affecting young people and contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. Childhood and adolescent mental health problems often persist into adulthood and as such frequently result in lifelong negative consequences. Yet despite the growing concern with regards to the mental health needs of children and adolescents, not much research, both internationally and particularly locally, has focused on the provision of mental health services to children and adolescents. Additionally, little has been published on the changes and trends in diagnostic rates and assessment procedures over time. Only a few international studies have investigated mental health trends in children and adolescents; hence, there is a crucial need for South African data to inform preventative and curative services for children in South Africa. This present study therefore investigated the trends and patterns relating to diagnostic rates and assessment practices in children and adolescents over time at a local South African psychological community service centre in Pietermaritzburg. The study was a retrospective chart review and the sample consisted of 679 case files from children and adolescents between 3-17 years of age, who had been seen at a local psychological service centre between 1987-1989, 1997-1999 and 2007-2009. The case files were systematically analysed with regards to diagnosis and assessment practices. It was hypothesised that the years of continuous social and political conflict in the Pietermaritzburg area, namely 1987-1989, had a direct impact on the psychological development and well-being of children and adolescents from this area, and that this would be reflected in the case files from the corresponding years. The research findings with regard to the assessment practices were comparable to the internationally observed trends relating to choice of tests and procedures. In addition, the findings of the current study also showed similar trends with regard to the increasing diagnostic rates for ADD/ADHD, Mood Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorders as were observed internationally. Additionally, the reported decreasing diagnostic rates for Mental Retardation and behaviour disorders were also found in this local study. However, the internationally observed increases in Anxiety Disorder diagnoses contrast with the findings of this study, where the results revealed that the rates for Anxiety Disorder and PTSD were considerably higher in the late 1980s and 1990s. This finding supports the initial hypothesis that the violence and social unrest had an effect on children’s psychological well-being. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.