EMPIRICALLY VALIDATED TREATMENTS AND CHILD CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS - COMMENT

This commentary argues that empirically validated treatments for child and youth behaviour and emotional difficulties are available, but the y are relatively inaccessible to the vast majority of Australian child ren and their families. Although effective interventions have been dev eloped, few children receive these services. There are many children w ho have identifiable problems or who are at increased risk for psychos ocial problems whose needs have not been adequately addressed by eithe r the research or the professional community. These include children i n rural and remote areas, Aboriginal and Tones Strait Islander childre n, children of migrants, and children with chronic physical illnesses. A comprehensive, preventively focused clinical science of prevention is needed to improve the reach and impact of psychological services fo r children.