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Outcomes in a System of Care for Youths with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: An Examination of Differential Change Across Clinical Profiles

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Abstract

We assessed the utility of an empirically-derived classification system for youths with emotional and behavioral disorders in a system of care with a strong representation of juvenile delinquents. Eighty-seven youths served in a system of care were categorized by variables related to past history, current behavioral functioning, and current psychological functioning into four clinical clusters. We evaluated preliminary clinical outcomes after six months of interagency involvement for youths within each cluster and across the four clusters. Results indicated that youths in different clusters improved significantly in need-specific areas. Trends in our data indicated differential change in clinical outcomes across clusters. We discuss our findings within the context of emerging outcomes of youths involved in comprehensive community-based programs and consider implications for outcome research, treatment of juvenile delinquents, and mental health policy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA

    Jennifer A. Rosenblatt (Post-Doctoral Fellow)

  2. Counseling Clinical School Psychology Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA

    Michael J. Furlong (Associate Professor)

Authors
  1. Jennifer A. Rosenblatt
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  2. Michael J. Furlong
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Correspondence to Jennifer A. Rosenblatt.

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Rosenblatt, J.A., Furlong, M.J. Outcomes in a System of Care for Youths with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: An Examination of Differential Change Across Clinical Profiles. Journal of Child and Family Studies 7, 217–232 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022947417228

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022947417228

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