Policy Implications of the National Evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program

Abstract

The Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program is described. Since its inception, this program has had the goal of using federal resources to facilitate the development of community-based systems of care that will be sustained by state- and local-level resources after federal funding. Much of this work requires a sustained emphasis on the policy implications of the program to influence public policy changes. These policy implications are discussed across multiple target audiences and impact areas at the federal, state, and local levels. The professional training and research communities are highlighted as important audiences to inform to facilitate continued policy change. The relations between data from this program and other recent federal initiatives to support research and evaluation in children's mental health services are discussed.