BUILDING THE RESEARCH BASE FOR CHILDRENS MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICES

The recent history of research on the service delivery system for chil dren and adolescents who have serious emotional disabilities and their families is summarized. The article provides an overview of the chang es in the response by the children's mental health system to this popu lation, with an emphasis on developments in service delivery system an d service demonstration research and evaluation efforts. The role of r esearch is examined in terms of its critical importance in improving t he system of care for these children and their families.