Factors Influencing Family Involvement in Mental Health Treatment of Children with Severe Emotional Disturbances

Abstract

Family involvement in mental health treatment has been shown to positively influence child outcomes, but families often are difficult to involve in treatment. We investigated the influence of child, caregiver, service system, and community factors on family involvement in mental health treatment for children with severe emotional disturbances using in-depth interviews and case review ratings gathered in a previous study. One hundred thirty-six children and adolescents, who received Medicaid coverage for mental health treatment in Mississippi and Tennessee, were the focus of this six month longitudinal study that assessed child and caregiver characteristics at wave one, and service system factors at follow up. Results of the multiple regression analysis showed that the quality of the service system had the most influence on family involvement in treatment. Previous research has overlooked the influence of the service system and attributed the level of family involvement to child and family characteristics.