Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Format of Original
11 p.
Publication Date
3-2007
Publisher
Elsevier
Source Publication
Research in Developmental Disabilities
Source ISSN
0891-4222
Abstract
A mental health clinic was developed for toddlers with developmental disabilities and significant behavior problems from families living in poverty. The clinic was a collaborative effort between a community-based Birth-to-Three agency and a university. The purpose of this clinic was threefold: to provide direct mental health services for these young children, to train graduate students to work with this population, and to begin to contribute to the limited research available in this area. This paper describes the clinical intake procedures and outcomes for the 81 children served by the clinic over a 2-year period. Referral concerns included tantrums, aggression, oppositional behaviors, hyperactivity, and self-injury. The children came from a diverse group of families living in poverty; single mothers with less than a high school education headed most of the households. The clinical intake included direct observations of parent–child interactions, child behavior assessments, and parental interviews and self-report measures. For the present sample, 77% of the children met the criteria for a developmental disability and nearly 70% also met the criteria for a psychiatric disorder. The most common diagnosis was oppositional defiant disorder. Discussion regarding the challenges inherent in working with families of toddlers with developmental delays and psychiatric disorders living in low-income circumstances is included.
Recommended Citation
Fox, Robert A.; Keller, Kathryn M.; Grede, Patricia L.; and Bartosz, Ann M., "A Mental Health Clinic for Toddlers with Developmental Delays and Behavior Problems" (2007). College of Education Faculty Research and Publications. 80.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/edu_fac/80
Comments
Accepted version. Research in Developmental Disabilities, Vol. 28, No. 2 (March/April 2007): 119-129. DOI. © 2007 Elsevier. Used with permission.
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Research in Developmental Disabilities. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Research in Developmental Disabilities, VOL 28, ISSUE 2, March/April 2007, DOI.