Clinical Child Psychology in the 1990's: Broadening Our Scope

Abstract

Examined trends in population demographics, education, technologies and economics for the 1990s, particularly as they relate to clinical child psychology and the mental health service delivery system. These trends indicate that the mental health system will encounter a rapidly changing ethnic mix, a growing proportion of new immigrants, few minority mental health professionals, and increasing poverty for young children in our society. Our current mental health service delivery system faces a shortage of well-trained professionals to work with children and diverse ethnocultural groups; problems in distribution, coordination, and integration of our limited mental health resources; and overdependence on traditional service models that may be ineffective with new, difficult-to-serve populations. Innovative service delivery models that overcome many of these obstacles are discussed in the context of recommendations for the future.