Citation

Malmgren KW, Meisel SM. J. Child Fam. Stud. 2002; 11(2): 217-229.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1023/A:1015181710291

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Understanding the characteristics of youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) impacted by multiple agencies, and the pattern of services provided to these youth in the absence of or prior to coordinated intervention, can assist the design and implementation of multiagency intervention programs. The current study provides a descriptive analysis of a cross-section of 93 secondary students with SED served concomitantly by special education, juvenile justice, and child welfare. Characteristics of early service delivery and child risk factors were examined through an archival record review. Gender differences were found for age at earliest contact, identification for special education, and contact with juvenile justice, with girls being significantly older in all. Ethnic differences were found for age at identification for special education and experience with neglect, substance abuse, and incarceration of a family member. A majority of participants demonstrated early conduct problems and experienced high rates of school mobility.