ABSTRACT
Few studies have examined the extent to which public children’s service systems respond to the mental health problems of children in state custody. This is an important issue because previous research suggests that little attention is given to children’s mental health service needs when judicial and service decisions are made about children who enter state custody. The current study addresses the issue by examining the extent to which one state’s children’s service system is responsive versus reactive to the mental health problems of the children in its care. A responsive system is one in which services are provided to meet each child’s unique mental health needs. A reactive system is one in which service providers take actions to avoid providing needed mental health services. Our results describe a service system that is more reactive than responsive to children’s mental health problems. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1–800-342–9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworthpressinc.com]
