Examining Needs and Referrals to Mental Health Services for Children in Residential Care in Spain

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of mental health disorders in children living in residential care and their use of therapeutic services, including the relationship between these factors and social-family and intervention process variables, as well as the relationship among the disorders identified by professionals and the detection of disorders by means of a screening instrument. We studied a sample from the Autonomous Community of Extremadura in Spain made up of 264 children ages 6 to 18 years. Data collected from residential care workers on the children’s characteristics and the existence of disorders and possible treatments were used, as well as the Child Behavioral Checklist as a screening instrument. In addition, the case social workers provided information on social-family and intervention process variables. Results show that 26% of the children in residential care were receiving or had received treatment for mental health disorders. Seventeen percent of the total presented mental disability, and in half of these cases, they were also being treated for mental disorder. The screening test, however, detected that cases with clinical range accounted for 44% of the children and that there was considerable bias in relation to referrals for treatment.

Therapeutic residential care in Spain. Population treated and therapeutic coverage

“…First, the fact that more than 70% of cases in both groups are receiving some kind of mental health treatment should be considered positive. Given the high percentage of cases in residential care with emotional and behavioural problems (Bronsard et al, ; Burns et al, ; González‐García et al, ; Greger et al, ; Jozefiak et al, ; McMillen et al, ) and considering that several voices have called attention to the scarce therapeutic coverage for these problems (Sainero et al, ; Tarren‐Sweeney, ), it seems that in Spain, we have become aware of the problem and are making an effort to treat this population.…”

“…Various studies show that the prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems in this population is particularly high (Bronsard et al, ; Burns et al, ; Greger, Myhre, Lydersen, & Jozefiak, ; Jozefiak et al, ; McMillen et al, ) and clearly higher than estimates in the general population (Ford, Vostanis, Meltzer, & Goodman, ; Sempik, Ward, & Darker, ), proportions ranging from 60% to 89% have been found. However, although there is a consensus about the high prevalence of mental health problems in the population of children and adolescents in residential care, it is noteworthy that the percentage receiving some kind of intervention is much lower (Sainero, Bravo, & Del Valle, ; Tarren‐Sweeney, ). Given the high frequency of these problems, it is not surprising that there are many cases to which the regular network of homes and residences cannot respond adequately, so there is a need for specialized resources to meet the treatment demands of more complex cases.…”

Sexismo y mitos del amor romántico en adolescentes que residen en centros de acogida

“…Los niños, niñas y adolescentes que ingresan en Centros de Acogida de Menores (CAM) traen consigo múltiples riesgos y fragilidades psicosociales, carencias que se han puesto de manifiesto en múltiples estudios realizados por la comunidad científica internacional (Leloux-Opmeer et al, 2016;Sainero et al, 2014;Vanderfaeillie et al, 2013). En esta línea, el estudio realizado por Leve et al (2012) señala tres aspectos principales de vulnerabilidad que son comunes en este colectivo de población: problemáticas de salud mental marcadas por interrupciones en el desarrollo emocional y de comportamiento, déficits en funciones neurocognitivas que afectan rendimiento escolar y desarrollo cognitivo, y dificultades para establecer y mantener relaciones adaptativas y positivas, especialmente en aquellos que han vivido situaciones de violencia familiar.…”

School Functioning of a Particularly Vulnerable Group: Children and Young People in Residential Child Care

“…Most children are in residential care due to being in a vulnerable situation in their family of origin. Research has reiterated the impact of these situations on children's social, emotional, and cognitive development (Bravo and Del Valle, 2001 ; Lázaro and López, 2010 ; Sainero et al, 2014 ; Van Vugt et al, 2014 ; Witt et al, 2016 ). But this group's difficulties in the academic arena, forgotten for decades in European child welfare systems (Jackson, 2010 ), are beginning to feature in the scientific literature (Munro and Stein, 2008 ; Snow, 2009 ).…”