CONCLUSION - A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING, A LOT OF NOTHING IS AN AGENDA FOR FAILURE

The National Agenda for Achieving Better Outcomes for Children and You th with Serious Emotional Disturbance is so general and all encompassi ng that it is an inadequate guide for action. Clearer, more specific d irection is needed if we are to obtain better results. I offer comment aries on the articles in this issue that address the seven targets of the Agenda. Of particular concern, especially in discussion of systemi c reform, is the possible loss of focus on the individual child and th e adequacy of component services. We need an agenda that plots precise ly the outcomes we want, measures accurately where we are now in relat ion to our goals, highlights the paths lending most directly and relia bly toward them, and keeps us apprised of our progress.