Date of Award

1984

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Art

Department

Education

First Advisor

Robert E. Agnew

Second Advisor

Rebecca Glenn

Third Advisor

Linda Roebuck

Abstract

The Southeast region is one of six regions developed for planning purposes by the Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services of the Department of Mental Health in the State of Missouri. The region is comprised of 24 counties with a total population of 513,400 persons ; 148,624 of those persons are under the age of 18 . Concerned citizens and mental health providers have been concerned for several years about the lack of special programming for the children and youth throughout the region. Available services for this population include outpatient services in each of the four service areas, a limited day treatment program for preschoolers in Cape Girardeau and inpatient care at Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital in St. Louis . This project was designed to, 1) identify socio-economic factors in the region that may warrant need for mental health services, 2) illuminate age groups that are most- in- need, 3) identify special needs in the geographic areas and , 4) focus future programming towards the identified needs . In order to achieve these goals, an informational survey was developed and mailed to over 200 persons from the Divisions of Family Services and Youth Services, juvenile officers, school counselors and mental health providers in the 24 counties. Survey questions included information regarding referrals to mental health agencies, estimates of the number of children and youth that could

benefit from mental health services, rankings of additional services/ programs, and estimates of the number of children and youth exhibiting specific target behaviors . The results of the survey were tabulated and regional and service area summaries were developed on the information received in the above mentioned categories . These expressed needs of professionals from child- serving agencies were used as a basis for a model for a mental health delivery system for children and youth in Southeast Missouri.

Included in

Education Commons

Share

COinS