Children birth to three entering the state's custody

Children entering the state's legal custody are a high-risk group. They hav e experienced, not only maltreatment of some form and usually separation fr om attachment figures, but often have also witnessed domestic violence, bee n exposed prenatally to alcohol and/or drugs, or been in attachment relatio nships with substance-abusing and/or mentally ill parents. This paper prese nts data on the developmental and mental health status of these children, i ncluding diagnoses using the Diagnostic Classification: 0-3. Over half the children received referrals for additiional needed developmental or mental health services. The importance of assessing these children early in their time in foster care is emphasized.