Outcomes for Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and Their Families: CFS Staff Complete Second Edition

CFS Professors and Researchers Krista Kutash, Ph.D. and Albert Duchnowski, Ph.D., along with Dr. Michael Epstein from the University of Nebraska, have co-edited the second edition of a book used widely among researchers, policy makers, families, advocates, and practitioners concerned with children who have emotional disturbances. Outcomes for Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and Their Families reflects the changes in growing governmental roles during the past few years.

"Since the publication of the first edition of Outcomes six years ago, there have been significant advances in the children’s mental health services field,” said Krista Kutash. "Policymakers and planners at the local, state, and federal levels are now, more than ever, working together to improve services.”

For the first time, the Surgeon General of the United States issued a report on the status of the nation's mental health, including a major section devoted to children. A national conference was held to develop an action agenda to implement the report's recommendations, and President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Education Act, which has extensive implications for all children, including those with emotional disturbances. Most recently, the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health issued its report and included a section devoted specifically to assessing the mental health needs of children and developing recommendations for improving services for them and their families.

Many contributors in this second edition include leading researchers in the field of children’s mental health. A number have been involved with communities across the country that have received support to develop comprehensive systems of care affecting more than 60,000 children and their families.

" We have selected material for this edition to profile projects supported by various government agencies that have enhanced the effectiveness of the system-of-care approach,” added Duchnowski. “Most chapters focus on interventions and findings from innovative, state-of-the-art approaches to meet the needs of children and their families. Several chapters include evaluations of these local and national initiatives.”

Albert Duchnowski is a professor of Child and Family Studies and Special Education (jointly appointed) at the University of South Florida. He serves as deputy director of the Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health at the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute. He has been principal investigator on several grants focusing on training professionals from a multidisciplinary perspective to work with children with disabilities and their families. Dr. Duchnowski has written numerous publications and has co-edited three books on children's mental health services and special education.

Krista Kutash is a professor and the deputy director of the Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She worked as a social worker before joining the center in 1984 to conduct research and training. Dr. Kutash has been principal investigator on several grants examining issues related to children who have disabilities and their families. She has contributed to more than 100 publications and presentations in the area of improving outcomes for children.

" As with the first edition, we hope this book will be useful to a variety audiences associated with this extensive field,” added Kutash. “We continue to believe that progress in the field will be most effectively accomplished through a partnership of researchers, families, practitioners, advocates, and policymakers.”

The book can be ordered from PRO-ED, Inc., a leading publisher of nationally standardized tests, resource and reference texts, curricular and therapy materials, and professional journals, at http://www.proedinc.com/store/index.php?mode=product_detail&id=10603

The Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) is a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.