Preschool children have been largely neglected in the mental health treatment literature, although research has established that many behavioral and emotional disorders in children result from events occurring during the preschool years or are first manifested during this period. This has occurred for several reasons. Traditional psychoanalytic thinking has considered preschoolers to be too psychologically immature for complete manifestations of psychopathology, and the limited language abilities of young children have complicated assessment procedures and made them less appropriate for treatment approaches that are largely verbal in nature. In addition, the developmental complexity of the preschool period has deterred many researchers from investigating clinical issues with this age group. Partly as a result of the lack of information on preschoolers in the literature, practitioners have historically been uncomfortable in conduct ing assessments and initiating treatment with young children. They have often adopted a "wait and see" attitude in which formal mental health diagnosis and treatment are not implemented until after the child's entry into school. Unfortunately, such a delay may mean wasting the time during which mental health interventions can be maximally effective. Recently, this attitude has changed and practitioners now recognize the need for assessment and treatment of behavioral and emotional disorders early in life. What they require to assist them in the timely delivery of such services is information about assessment and treatment procedures specifically designed for preschoolers and with demonstrated efficacy with that age group."

Residential and inpatient treatment of children and adolescents is a field that is still in the process of defining itself and of demonstrating its effectiveness. Because of the continuous nature of the field's development, it is especially important that a broad range of its theoretical orientations and therapeutic techniques be considered and critically appraised. Residential and inpatient treatment is unique in its potential for both positive and negative outcomes. No other interventions can bring about the major changes in all aspects of a child's environment that inpatient hospitalization or residential treatment can. These changes may result in rapid and significant improvements in a child's condition, or they may conceivably lead to additional maladaptive behavioral patterns or inappropriate emotional and cognitive responses. Therefore, the obligation to consider the entire range of treatment alterna tives and to empirically determine the effectiveness of specific interventions is particularly great. Residential and inpatient treatment is also an expensive and limited resource, and our wise utilization of it should be guided by a comprehensive understanding of its benefits and limitations."

Each year more than 50,000 children and adolescents receive mental health treatment in residential and inpatient settings such as hospitals, group homes, and residential treatment centers. How is a decision made to disrupt a child's or teen's environment and place him or her in a program? What factors should be considered? What kinds of treatment are offered in these settings? How cost-effective and productive are these programs? Suggesting guidelines for how and when to use these special services, Treating Children and Adolescents in Residential and Inpatient Settings provides a useful assessment of current therapeutic models and inpatient/residential treatment options. The authors review the findings of published program evaluations and discuss effective alternatives to residential placement, such as part-time day and community-based treatment. The book also includes a list of relevant resources that both professionals and parents will find helpful, including information on locating professional and advocacy organizations, publications, and assessment materials. Referring a child or teen to an intensive residential or inpatient treatment program is a major decision that affects the whole family. Treating Children and Adolescents in Residential and Inpatient Settings will help both professionals and parents make better informed decisions about institutionalizing children and adolescents. Likewise, students, researchers, and scholars in clinical/counseling psychology, developmental psychology, nursing, behavioral psychology, and social work will find interesting and pertinent information in this volume.

Preschool children have been largely neglected in the mental health treatment literature, although research has established that many behavioral and emotional disorders in children result from events occurring during the preschool years or are first manifested during this period. This has occurred for several reasons. Traditional psychoanalytic thinking has considered preschoolers to be too psychologically immature for complete manifestations of psychopathology, and the limited language abilities of young children have complicated assessment procedures and made them less appropriate for treatment approaches that are largely verbal in nature. In addition, the developmental complexity of the preschool period has deterred many researchers from investigating clinical issues with this age group. Partly as a result of the lack of information on preschoolers in the literature, practitioners have historically been uncomfortable in conduct ing assessments and initiating treatment with young children. They have often adopted a "wait and see" attitude in which formal mental health diagnosis and treatment are not implemented until after the child's entry into school. Unfortunately, such a delay may mean wasting the time during which mental health interventions can be maximally effective. Recently, this attitude has changed and practitioners now recognize the need for assessment and treatment of behavioral and emotional disorders early in life. What they require to assist them in the timely delivery of such services is information about assessment and treatment procedures specifically designed for preschoolers and with demonstrated efficacy with that age group."

Residential and inpatient treatment of children and adolescents is a field that is still in the process of defining itself and of demonstrating its effectiveness. Because of the continuous nature of the field's development, it is especially important that a broad range of its theoretical orientations and therapeutic techniques be considered and critically appraised. Residential and inpatient treatment is unique in its potential for both positive and negative outcomes. No other interventions can bring about the major changes in all aspects of a child's environment that inpatient hospitalization or residential treatment can. These changes may result in rapid and significant improvements in a child's condition, or they may conceivably lead to additional maladaptive behavioral patterns or inappropriate emotional and cognitive responses. Therefore, the obligation to consider the entire range of treatment alterna tives and to empirically determine the effectiveness of specific interventions is particularly great. Residential and inpatient treatment is also an expensive and limited resource, and our wise utilization of it should be guided by a comprehensive understanding of its benefits and limitations."

Each year more than 50,000 children and adolescents receive mental health treatment in residential and inpatient settings such as hospitals, group homes, and residential treatment centers. How is a decision made to disrupt a child's or teen's environment and place him or her in a program? What factors should be considered? What kinds of treatment are offered in these settings? How cost-effective and productive are these programs? Suggesting guidelines for how and when to use these special services, Treating Children and Adolescents in Residential and Inpatient Settings provides a useful assessment of current therapeutic models and inpatient/residential treatment options. The authors review the findings of published program evaluations and discuss effective alternatives to residential placement, such as part-time day and community-based treatment. The book also includes a list of relevant resources that both professionals and parents will find helpful, including information on locating professional and advocacy organizations, publications, and assessment materials. Referring a child or teen to an intensive residential or inpatient treatment program is a major decision that affects the whole family. Treating Children and Adolescents in Residential and Inpatient Settings will help both professionals and parents make better informed decisions about institutionalizing children and adolescents. Likewise, students, researchers, and scholars in clinical/counseling psychology, developmental psychology, nursing, behavioral psychology, and social work will find interesting and pertinent information in this volume.