ABSTRACT
More than 12 percent of children (approximately 7.5 million) in the U.S. have a mental health problem in need of treatment, and about half of those children have problems that are severe and persistent to the extent that they are considered "seriously emotionally disturbed" (National Advisory Mental Health Council, 1990). De spite these needs, it is estimated that only one-half of all children who have mental or emotional disorders receive any services, and fewer receive services that appropriately address their needs and those of their families (Knitzer, 1982, Saxe, Cross & Silverman, 1988).
