Indicator: 18 - Home Care of Youth With Severe Behavioral Health Problems

Why This Is Important

National estimates of children with serious emotional disturbance range from as low as 7% to as high as 19% of the total population. In 1997, the Maine Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (now the Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services) estimated that 19,117 children with severe emotional disturbance needed publicly-funded behavioral health services. Children and adolescents with severe behavioral health problems, and their families, often struggle to receive services and supports that enable families to live together. The emotional, social and economic costs to families and taxpayers are high.

The Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services collects service utilization data related to children's mental health services. One source of information about service use is the year-end reporting of children and families served by providers who are under contract to the Department. Although there are various services that can be delivered in the home and community, respite care is a particularly important support which allows a child to continue living at home and reduces the risk of an out-of-home placement. Respite care is planned, temporary care of an individual for the purpose of providing primary relief to the caregiver. Respite services were provided to 2,343 families for 1999-2000 based on year-end contract reports from respite agencies statewide.