Investing in Children's Mental Health

Investing in Children’s Mental Health examines how we can promote emotional well-being among young people on a societal scale, in the context of escalating needs and insufficient resources. In particular, the book addresses three interrelated questions: (1) What are the best available investments to improve the mental health of children and adolescents? (2) To what extent are these investments being made? (3) What can practitioners, child-serving organizations, policymakers, and other community partners do to promote such investments? The book examines these issues on a broad level through a general synthesis of research and evidence and then examines these issues on a deeper level through a series of case studies featuring interventions and programs spanning a variety of settings and age groups: home visiting programs, parenting programs, social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in schools, multisystemic therapy (MST) for troubled youth, and the Communities That Care (CTC) framework for addressing youth substance use and well-being. The final chapters draw out key themes and offer recommendations for audiences including policymakers, administrators, funders, and practitioners.