Community-Based Care Helps Children
 As
part of the first-ever National Children's Mental Health
Awareness Day, SAMHSA released data showing that children
and youth with serious mental health needs make substantial
improvements through community-based services.
SAMHSA presented the findings at a special briefing
on Capitol Hill hosted by the Federation of Families
for Children's Mental Health, the National Mental Health
Association (NMHA), the National Association of Social
Workers (NASW), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI).
The SAMHSA data, from the Agency's 2005 national evaluation
of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services
Program for Children and Their Families, show that children
and youth in "systems of care" spend less time
in inpatient mental health care, experience fewer arrests,
make improvements in their overall mental health, and
do better in school than before enrollment in the program.
A system of care is a coordinated network of community-based
services. Families and youth work in partnership with
both public and private organizations so that services
and supports are effective, build on an individual's
strengths, and address each person's cultural and linguistic
needs.
"The systems of care approach helps children thrive
in their homes and communities. It is a wise investment
of scarce resources," said SAMHSA Administrator
Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W.
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2005 Key Outcomes
The SAMHSA data suggest that systems of care save taxpayers
money when compared to the traditional mental health
service delivery systems. In 2005, for children and families
in systems of care programs, positive outcomes included
the following:
-
Reduced costs due to fewer days in inpatient
care. The average reduction in per-child
inpatient hospital days from entry into services
to 12 months translated into an average per-child
cost savings of $2,776.85.
-
Decreased use of inpatient facilities.
The percentage of children who used inpatient facilities
within the previous 6 months decreased 54 percent
from entry into systems of care to 18 months after
systems of care.
-
Reduced arrest results in per-child cost
savings. From entry into systems of care
to 12 months after entry, the average reduction in
number of arrests per child within the prior 6 months
translated into an average per-child cost savings
of $784.16.
-
Mental health improvements sustained.
Emotional and behavioral problems were reduced significantly
or remained stable for nearly 90 percent of children
after 18 months in systems of care.
-
Suicide-related behaviors were significantly
reduced. The percentage of children and
youth who had deliberately harmed themselves or had
attempted suicide decreased 32 percent after 12 months
in systems of care.
-
School attendance improved. The
percentage of children with regular school attendance
(i.e., 75 percent of the time or more) during the
previous 6 months increased nearly 10 percent, with
84 percent attending school regularly after 18 months
in systems of care.
-
School achievement improved. The
percentage of children with a passing performance
(i.e., C or better) during the previous 6 months
increased 21 percent, with 75 percent of children
passing after 18 months in systems of care.
-
Significant reductions in juvenile detention.
Children and youth who were placed in juvenile detention
or other secure facilities within the previous 6
months decreased 43 percent from entry into services
to 18 months after entering systems of care.
Plans are under way to make Children's Mental Health
Awareness Day an annual event during Children's Mental
Health Awareness Week, which is the first week in May
(Mental Health Month). For 2007, the event is scheduled
for May 8.
For more information on these SAMHSA data or the Comprehensive
Community Mental Health Services Program for Children
and Their Families, visit the SAMHSA Web site at www.systemsofcare.samhsa.gov. 
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