Troubled or Troubling? Characteristics of Youth Referred to a System of Care Without System-Level Referral Constraints

Abstract

The characteristics of 128 youth with emotional and behavioral disorders referred to a system of care were investigated according to agency referral, behavioral and emotional issues, and risk factors. The referral process in this system of care was unique, with each agency referring youth deemed to need multiagency services. The primary analysis used a two-step clustering procedure to examine characteristic profiles, and results produced evidence of four types of referral profiles: Troubled, Troubling. Troubled and Troubling, and At Risk. It was found that youth with various impairments and corresponding needs were referred by different agencies (e.g., troubling youth were most likely to be referred by juvenile probation), but all agencies referred youth across the four clusters. The results of this study are examined with respect to the long-standing policy debate regarding which youth with emotional and behavioral disorders should be given priority to receive services. Implications about evaluating outcomes in systems of care are also discussed.

Teacher Identification of Student Emotional and Behavioral Problems and Provision of Early Supports: A Vignette-Based Study

“…Alternatively, this result could be interpreted as teachers not being sufficiently concerned about moderate male externalizing problems. Given that previous studies have found a strong association of externalizing problems with poor educational outcomes (Breslau, Miller, Chung, & Schweitzer, 2011; McLeod, Uemura, & Rohrman, 2012; Porche, Costello, & Rosen-Reynoso, 2016), the finding here that moderate male externalizing problems are rated as less severe than moderate female internalizing problems might be an indication that teachers are more likely to interpret male externalizing symptoms as signs of “troubling” rather than “troubled” behavior that should be interpreted as concerning (Rosenblatt et al, 1998).…”

Mental Health Service Use Among High School Students Exposed to Interpersonal Violence

“…Importantly, our measures of peer violence were quite severe, including serious physical assault and gun displays. The lack of association could be due to the fact that violence has become somewhat normalized in urban areas, or that students involved in peer violence are sometimes viewed as “troubling” rather than “troubled,” and are less likely to be referred for mental health services . By contrast, the finding that victims of sexual assault receive services is encouraging.…”

Profiles of Young Children Teacher-Identified as at Risk for Emotional Disturbance: A Pilot Study

“…Profi les may ultimately prove to be benefi cial in the creation of specifi c, targeted intervention programs (Dembo & Schmeidler, 2003). Previous studies using clustering procedures have sought to determine profi les across subtypes of disabilities, including learning disabilities (Satz & Morris, 1981), oral language impairments (Speece, Roth, Cooper, & De La Paz, 1999), social withdrawal (Harrist, Zaia, Bates, Dodge, & Pettit, 1997), and behavioral disorders (Cullinan, Epstein, & Quinn, 1996;Rosenblatt, et al, 1998). Moreover, clustering procedures have been used with children presenting academic and behavioral problems, including youth delinquency (Dembo & Schmeidler, 2003), children at-risk for school failure (Speece & Cooper, 1990), and antisocial preadolescents (Pevalin, Wade, & Brannigan, 2003).…”

“…Behavioral, emotional, family, and child risk factors were examined across 128 youth to determine the heterogeneity of referral profi les. Four clusters, presenting distinct levels of risk across risk factors, were identifi ed; children in the most severe risk category had elevated risks across home and school settings, as well as across child and family variables (Rosenblatt et al, 1998). Finally, Speece and Cooper (1990) assessed profi les of risk in 112 fi rst-grade children, 63 of whom were identifi ed as at risk of school failure.…”