Early Identification of Mental Health Needs for Children in Care: A Therapeutic Assessment Programme for Statutory Clients of Child Protection

Abstract

Infants, children and young people enter out of home care in distressing circumstances. They have often suffered traumatic experiences and have had their primary relationships disrupted. They and their families and carers have specific mental health needs at this time but few have attended a mental health service. A systematic comprehensive therapeutic assessment approach is described for all child protection clients who entered out-of-home care for the first time in one calendar year. The work of the programme is described using both case study and assessment findings. More than 60 per cent of participants met criteria for a major psychiatric diagnosis, with Post Traumatic Stress and Adjustment Disorders being the most common diagnostic categories. Nearly three-quarters of participants over the age of 5 years scored in the borderline or abnormal range on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997). There was an over-representation of infants less than 1 year of age and adolescents in the cohort, representing particular developmental challenges. The findings are discussed within the context of specific mental health service delivery to this vulnerable population of maltreated infants, children and young people.