Responses of children with different intake profiles to mental health treatment

Objective: The study examined the relative change in functioning of children with serious emotional disturbances served in a system of care who were referred from a variety of sources and who had different intake profiles, including diagnoses, demographic characteristics, and levels of risk. Methods: A total of 203 children who had received services for at least six months from the East Baltimore mental health partnership were included in the study. The children's functioning was assessed using the Child and Adolescent Functioning Assessment Scale (CAFAS) at both baseline and six months. Univariate analyses were used to compare demographic and functioning characteristics at baseline of children referred from different sources. Repeated-measures general linear analysis was conducted to determine differences in changes in functioning by demographic and clinical characteristics as well as referral source. Results: On average, children demonstrated significant functional improvement from baseline to six months, regardless of referral source, presenting problem, risk factors, age, or gender. The amount or proportion of change did not differ significantly as a function of these factors. Conclusions: The results indicate that children in this system of care referred from different sources with different diagnoses, demographic profiles, and levels of risk had similar rates of improvement during the first six months of services.