Approaches to Serious Emotional Disturbance: Involving Multiple Systems.

Abstract

Practice with children who have serious emotional disturbance (SED) increasingly requires multiple-systems intervention. Through a sample case, this article explores these interventions within the context of current national policy. Mental health collaboration with the systems of juvenile justice, education, child welfare, primary health care, and drug and alcohol services is summarized. The specific programs of multisystemic therapy, Pennsylvania's family-based mental health services, and Wraparound Milwaukee are presented as multiple-systems approaches that are successful with this population. The authors offer suggestions for emerging roles for psychologists within this context.