Research in children's mental health lags behind research for adults in part because it is intrinsically context-bound. Children are embedded in families, in schools, and in communities who have responsibility for their care. Making research findings useful and ensuring that they are applied to improve the lives of children and families requires attention to these contexts. This entails a process of collaboration with many partners-teachers, nurses, healthcare providers, church leaders, neighborhood group directors, and other community leaders. The process of collaboration in children's mental health is complicated but the products that it yields have the potential to benefit both children and families. This volume, with the toolkit and casebook that it contains, distills the process of collaboration into manageable steps, and provides concrete examples of how researchers have addressed specific challenges. The premise of the book is that collaborative research, in contrast to traditional research paradigms, will yield findings that are more ethical, valid, and useful. Highlighting the transformation of science from ivory-tower theories to action-oriented practices, the editors offer practical advice for researchers and practitioners interested in using data to inform and transform children's mental health. Concrete examples of projects that have involved community leaders and researchers provide an insider's guide to conducting successful collaborations that can yield better results than traditional top-down research paradigms.

Whether you call yourself a parent advisor, advocate, coordinator, support specialist, liaison, mentor, coach, or another term, this guide provides the essential information you need as a parent helping parents. The book is divided into four parts for easy reference:
Part One: Addresses important skills you will want to hone, such as listening, collaboration, priority setting, and group management.
Part Two describes the mental health system and gives guidance for helping parents obtain appropriate treatment for their child.
Part Three covers working with the school system and the different special education options families should consider.
Part Four explains education laws and how they should be used to ensure children receive all the appropriate services they need.
Specifically designed to assist you in your work with families, this guide includes the following helpful features: -A useful self-assessment to zero in on the key areas where you will want to focus your efforts -Concrete strategies that work-- all based on the wisdom and experience of parent mentors just like you from across the country -Practical, easy-to-read instruction co-written by experts 'in the trenches' and leading university researchers -Tips for parents and important points highlighted throughout the book for quick reference -Self study questions at the end of each chapter to help reinforce what you've learned -A handy appendix with a wealth of current resources for more information on advocacy, training programs, and children's mental health
Helping parents 'take charge' of their children's mental health care is a rewarding job. It is also a challenging one. In your workempowering parents, this guide will become an invaluable resource of the knowledge you require to succeed.