Financing more integrated children and family services: Current practice and opportunities for reform

This article argues that how public services and supports for children and families are delivered is closely related to how they are financed. It is t herefore essential to examine how financing systems for education and other children's services inhibit or promote more integrated service delivery sy stems. Two questions are specifically addressed: (a) How do current financi ng arrangements present specific legal, political, administrative, and atti tudinal obstacles to implementing comprehensive, community-based children's service approaches? (b) What are some promising strategies for overcoming these obstacles? The article concludes by noting that alternative financing approaches offer unique opportunities for the educational and psychologica l consulting communities because of the potential of these mechanisms to fo ster a more integral role for such personnel in children's service provisio n.