The Role of Communication in Child-Parent-Provider Interaction in a Children’s Mental Health System of Care

This chapter examines system of care principles in practice in child-parentprovider interactions among children with Severe Emotional Disturbances1 (SED),their families, and mental healthcare providers, using systems theory as the overarching metatheory to explore these interactions. Within this metatheoretical perspective, we also investigate these interactions from the concepts of framing and sensemaking, meeting structure and communication networks, and empowerment and social roles.