Guide to Treatment for Children With Mental Health Needs - How to Help Children With Mental Health Needs

Written by SAMHSA

Service coordinator or Case manager: This is an individual who keeps track of the services and supports your child and family are receiving, and makes sure that they are working together in a manner that is easy for your child and family to use.

Service plan: This is a written document that lists and describes all the services and supports your child and family will receive. Typically, service plans also include information about your child's and family's strengths, problems, and needs. Good service plans spell out what the services and supports are designed to accomplish, as well as how and when progress will be assessed. If your child is receiving special education, the service plan is called an individualized education program or IEP. A Federal law, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (usually called IDEA), describes who is eligible for special education and exactly what must be in an IEP. Another legal document, called a 504 Plan, provides accommodations for students who are not in special education classes but may have special physical or mental health needs.

Service planning team: This is the group of individuals you select to help develop your child's service plan. You choose the family members, professionals, friends, experts, and support people who will be team members. The team meets when it is convenient for you and as often as necessary to make sure your child and family are getting the help you want and need.

Strengths: These are the positive characteristics of your child and family. No matter how challenging children's mental health needs are, they have things they do well, people they like, and activities they enjoy.

System of care: This a coordinated network of agencies and providers that make a full range of mental health and other necessary services available as needed by children with mental health problems and their families. The values and principles of systems of care are printed in this guide.

Where to Get More Information

A wealth of information is available on the Internet. You can connect to Web sites, free of charge, at many libraries and public schools. These national resources can put you in touch with experts in your State or community.

Federal Government Information Sources

SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
P.O. Box 42490
Washington , DC 20015
1.800.789.CMHS (1.800.789.2647)
TDD: 1.866.889.2647
mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

Child Adolescent and Family Branch
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
One Choke Cherry Road
Room 6-1045
Rockville , MD 20850
240.276.1921
mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/child

Additional Information Sources*

Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
1101 King Street, Suite 420
Alexandria , VA 22314
703.684.7710
www.ffcmh.org

National Evaluation Program
ORC Macro
3 Corporate Square NE, Suite 370
Atlanta , GA 30329
404.321.3211
www.macroint.com

National Indian Child Welfare Association
5100 SW Macadam Avenue, Suite 300
Portland , OR 97239
503.222.4044
www.nicwa.org

National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health
Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development
3307 M Street, NW, Suite 401
Washington , DC 20007
202.687.5000
http://gucchd.georgetown.edu/programs/ta_center/index.html

Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health
Florida Mental Health Institute
University of South Florida
13301 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
Tampa , FL 33612
813.974.4661
http://rtckids.fmhi.usf.edu

Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health
Portland State University
P.O. Box 751
Portland , OR 97207
503.725.4040
www.rtc.pdx.edu

Statewide Family Networks Technical Assistance Center
1401 El Camino Ave., Suite 340
Sacramento , CA 95815
866.807.7687
www.tacenter.net

Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health
1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington , DC 20007
202.403.6827
www.tapartnership.org

* This is not an all-inclusive listing of organizations and programs on this topic. Nothing is implied by an organization or program not being referenced. The listing of an organization or program does not necessarily signify endorsement by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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