Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2005 Apr;26(2):140-51.
doi: 10.1097/00004703-200504000-00011.

Addressing the developmental and mental health needs of young children in foster care

Affiliations

Addressing the developmental and mental health needs of young children in foster care

Laurel K Leslie et al. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2005 Apr.

Abstract

Research over the past two decades has consistently documented the high rates of young children entering the child protective services/child welfare system with developmental and mental health problems. There is an emerging evidence base for the role of early intervention services in improving outcomes for children with developmental and mental health problems in the general population that heavily relies on accurate and appropriate screening and assessment practices. The Child Welfare League of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have all published guidelines concerning the importance of comprehensive assessments and appropriate referral to early intervention services for children entering out-of-home care. Recent federal legislation (P.L. 108-36) calls for increased collaboration between child welfare and public agencies to address the developmental and mental health needs of young children in foster care. This paper provides a framework for health, developmental, and mental health professionals seeking to partner with child welfare to develop and implement programs addressing these critical issues.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. AFCARS Report—Current Estimates as of June 2001. Available at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/afcars/june2001.htm Accessed February 15, 2002.
    1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. AFCARS Report—Current Estimates as of August 2002. Available at: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/afcars/report7.htm Accessed July 14, 2003.
    1. Dawson G, Hessl D, Frey K. Social influences of early developing biological and behavioral systems related to risk for affective disorder. Dev Psychopathol. 1994;6:759–779.
    1. Carnegie Taskforce on Meeting the Needs of Young Children. Starting Points: Meeting the Needs of Our Youngest Children New York, NY: Carnegie Corporation of New York; 1994.
    1. California Center for Health Improvement. Children and Youth Survey Sacramento, CA: The Field Institute; 1997.

Publication types

MeSH terms