Community Child Mental-Health Services: A Framework for the Development of Parenting Initiatives

Abstract

There is considerable variation in the structure, style and content of parenting initiatives in the UK. While there has been a rapid expansion of such programmes, there is no clear framework for systematic provision and no strong evidence base for their effectiveness. This discussion article briefly reviews the position of parenting initiatives in the UK. It then goes on to describe the development of a tiered child mental-health service and some of the recent initiatives undertaken by the North Southwark Community Child and Family Service. This primary child mental-health care service aims to increase the effectiveness and availability of child mental-health promotion, prevention, early and continuing intervention. It is proposed that this type of service framework can be used to ensure the development of coherent, targeted and collaborative parenting initiatives.