Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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How Baby Peter has changed everything
- Author:
- GILLEN Sally
- Journal article citation:
- Young Minds Magazine, 102, October 2009, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- YoungMinds
There has been an rise in the number of care proceedings since the Baby Peter case, which has resulted in an increased workload for social workers. As children in public care often have greater contact with a child mental health team, this article examines the possible impact on child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) teams. A short case study of the Newham Child and Family Consultation service is included.
Childhood out-of-home placement and pathways to adult socioeconomic outcomes
- Authors:
- ORRI Massimiliano, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 129, 2021, p.106183.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Background: This study aimed to first, estimate the association of early childhood out-of-home placement with adult income and reliance on social welfare, and second, to test whether, and to what extent, mental health problems in adolescence/young adulthood and primary school grade point average (GPA) explain these associations. Method: This study used linked registers of all 59,476 births in Finland in 1987. Children who were first placed between the ages 2–6 years were selected as our exposure-group. Outcomes measured in adulthood (26–28 years) were low income (i.e. <11,000US$ annual income during ≥2 of 3 years) and social welfare use (i.e. >3 months of annual social welfare during ≥2 of 3 years). Putative mediators were mental health problems (i.e., psychiatric diagnoses from inpatient/outpatient visits) at ages 18–25 years, and Grade Point Average (GPA). To account for background differences, this study matched placed to non-placed children using propensity score matching on parental (e.g., psychiatric diagnoses, education) and child characteristics (e.g., neurodevelopmental problems, prematurity). Results: Of 54,814 children with complete data, 386 (0.71%) experienced placement (384 were matched). At ages 26–28, placed children had greater odds than never-placed children of low income (OR, 1.74; CI, 1.31–2.32) and social welfare (OR, 2.09; CI, 1.34–3.04). This study found significant indirect effects of out-of-home placement on social welfare use via mental health problems (proportion mediated, 22%) and GPA (proportion mediated 11%), and on low income via mental health problems only (proportion mediated, 34%). Conclusions: Prevention of mental health problems and increased school support for children who experienced out-of-home placement may effectively reduce poor adult socioeconomic outcomes associated with placement. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental disorders among adults formerly in out-of-home care: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
- Authors:
- SEKER Suheyla, et al
- Journal article citation:
- European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, early cite June 2021,
- Publisher:
- Springer Nature
While children and adolescents placed in child welfare or juvenile justice out-of-home care show higher prevalence rates of mental disorders compared to the general population, it remains unclear whether this pattern persists into adulthood. A quantitative synthesis of existing studies is lacking. The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the prevalence rates for mental disorders among adults with a foster or residential child welfare or juvenile justice care history, comparing them where possible to rates among the general population. PubMed, PsycInfo, EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically searched for epidemiological studies published up to 28 October 2020. Nineteen studies, totaling 604,257 participants, met our inclusion criteria. Random-effects models were used for prevalence rates and odds ratios (OR) of mental disorders, and study quality was rated. A prevalence rate of 30% [95% CI (23.36, 37.36)] for any mental disorder in adults with a child welfare care history was found (3–17% for specific disorders). A prevalence rate of 45% [95% CI (42.38, 47.38)] for any mental disorder was found in adults with a juvenile justice care history (6–66% for specific disorders). For out-of-home placement history, adult mental disorders were significantly higher than in the general population (OR = 1.33–2.76). Studies differed in terms of methodology and the disorder groups considered, so heterogeneity between effect sizes ranged from low to high. Our findings suggest that the high risk that mental health issues will persist in adults with an out-of-home placement history needs to be taken seriously in the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The care systems involved need to collaborate and to be aware of these risks. (Edited publisher abstract)
A systematic review of some reliability and validity issues regarding the strengths and difficulties questionnaire focusing on its use in out-of-home care
- Authors:
- BERGSTROM Martin, BAVISKAR Siddhartha
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 18(1), 2021, pp.1-31.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Purpose: A systematic review was conducted to analyze the inter-rater reliability, cross-informant consistency, test-retest reliability, and temporal stability of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and its ability to discriminate. Method: We searched three databases for articles about the SDQ (parent, teacher, and self-report version), used samples of children up to age 18 and reported inter-rater reliability, cross-informant reliability, test-retest reliability, temporal stability, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Results: Focusing on the TDS, inter-rater, and cross-informant reliability showed acceptable values, but respondent types (e.g., mothers and fathers) are not interchangeable. Test-retest reliability and temporal stability were also acceptable, and not excessively high. Specificity and NPV were acceptable but not sensitivity and PPV. Discussion and Conclusion: Greater transparency is needed about who the respondent is when the term “parents” is used. The SDQ is an important supplement to service-as-usual assessments by social care professionals. (Edited publisher abstract)
Help seeking among adolescents in foster care: a qualitative study
- Authors:
- JOHNSON Emily M., MENNA Rosanne
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 76, 2017, pp.92-99.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Adolescents in foster care are at high risk for mental health and emotional problems, however many do not receive needed services. The objective of this qualitative study was to examine the subjective experiences and perceptions related to mental health and help seeking of adolescents in care. Seven individuals aged 16–20 completed in-depth semi-structured interviews, which were coded following a grounded theory approach. Identified concepts or themes were related to level of need (i.e., stressful situations related to school, family, and foster care); predisposing and enabling factors (e.g., attitudes toward help seeking, previous help seeking, and awareness of sources); seeking help (i.e., a preference to talk to others with shared experiences); and stages of help seeking (i.e., problem recognition; recognition of need for help; evaluation of appropriate sources of help; and seeking help). Findings address gaps in the literature, and suggest targets for intervention. (Publisher abstract)
Formulating foster care in Scotland for young children's emotional and mental wellbeing
- Authors:
- MACKAY Kirsteen, et al
- Publishers:
- University of Edinburgh, NSPCC Child Protection Research Centre
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 37
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
This report summarises the findings of original research carried out by the University of Edinburgh/NSPCC Child Protection Research Centre into the way in which foster carers may support the mental health needs of children in their care. It focuses on children aged up to 60 months who have been removed from their parents’ care because of maltreatment, or risk of maltreatment and who have been placed in state provided (non-familial) foster care provision in Scotland. The research was conducted in three phases: phase I comprised two literature searches to identify what is known about the support for the emotional and mental health needs of the target group of children and the landscape of foster care in Scotland; phase II identified the support given to foster carers through analysis of documents from local authorities, augmented by interviews with managers from two local authorities; and phase III interviewed foster carers to gain their perspective. Children within the care system are more likely to have poor emotional mental wellbeing than children in the general population. There is evidence that local authorities support foster carers to address the mental health needs of infants in their care, through provision of ongoing training, through efforts to match the child to the carer, through the provision of information on the background of the child and through access to professional supports. The study found that foster carers are able to describe a range of troubling behaviours from infants for whom they have cared. They value training and access to advice concerning behavioural issues. Foster carers help children to recover from abuse and neglect through the modelling of positive behaviour, efforts to build an attachment and efforts to stimulate the child’s development. (Edited publisher abstract)
Predictors of running away from out-of-home care
- Authors:
- COURTNEY Mark E., ZINN Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 31(12), December 2009, pp.1298-1306.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Whilst running away from home is a common occurrence, with one child in eight having run away at some point during adolescence, this puts children at serious risk of victimisation, sexual exploitation, substance abuse and criminal activity. This is also shown to increase the likelihood of adult depression and homelessness later in life. This study, using data from the state's child welfare management information system and Medicaid paid claims data, examines the frequency and predictors of children running away from foster care in Illinois. Analysis focused on 14,282 children and youth who ran away from care at least once between 1993 and 2003, where the likelihood that youths in care would run nearly doubled over the study period, driven largely by an increase over time in the likelihood that those same youths who had run once would run again. Child age, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and diagnosed mental health and substance use disorders all predicted running from care. System-level factors including placement type, number of prior placements, prior runaway history, and administrative region were also found to predict running away. Implications of the study findings for child welfare policy and practice are further discussed.
Improving the emotional and behavioural health of looked after children and young people (LACYP): research summary 2
- Author:
- CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE AND OUTCOMES IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES
- Publisher:
- Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This summary provides an overview of the key messages from a research review into what works in improving the emotional and behavioural health of looked after children and young people. The study focused on interventions for which the evidence based was most developed, including enhanced foster care, multi-systemic therapy and mentoring.
Enhancing placement stability via a continuum-of-care approach: reflections from the Australian context
- Authors:
- CHEERS Deirdre, MONDY Stephen
- Journal article citation:
- Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 4(2), June 2009, pp.148-153.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The nature and context of care for looked-after children in Australia is described briefly. The experiences of a non-government agency, Centacare Broken Bay, in providing residential and foster-care services to looked-after children with high and complex needs is detailed. A continuum-of-care approach that contributes to the continuity of young people's relationships is outlined, and some factors associated with this approach in reducing placement instability are discussed.
Understanding looked after children: an introduction to psychology for foster care
- Authors:
- GUISHARD-PINE Jeune, McCALL Suzanne, HAMILTON Lloyd
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2007
- Pagination:
- 176p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Understanding Looked After Children is an accessible guide to understanding the mental health needs of children in foster care and the role of foster carers and support networks in helping these children. The authors provide foster carers with an insight into the psychological issues experienced by children in the care system, and the impact of these issues on the foster family. Chapters cover cultural, social and legal structures associated with foster care and both the relevant child psychology theory and examples drawn from real-life situations. The authors give advice on how to address common psychological issues in collaboration with multi-agency professionals, as well as how to access to statutory services. They also explain the possible impact of assessments on foster children and the causes and management of foster carers' own feelings of frustration, anger or disappointment with social and mental health services or the placement itself. Chapters are complemented by case studies, and the book includes a helpful glossary to common terminology. Understanding Looked After Children is essential reading for registered foster carers and those considering fostering, as well as adoptive parents, and a useful reference for trainee and experienced practitioners in the care system, including social workers, psychologists, counsellors, teachers and others looking after vulnerable children.