@article{ref1,
title="The mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents in home-based foster care",
journal="Medical journal of Australia",
year="2007",
author="Sawyer, Michael G. and Carbone, Josephine A. and Searle, Amelia K. and Robinson, P.",
volume="186",
number="4",
pages="181-184",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of mental health problems, rates of suicidal ideation and behaviour, and use of professional mental health services among children and adolescents residing in home-based foster care, and to compare these rates with those reported for children and adolescents in the general Australian community. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 326 children and adolescents (aged 6-17 years) residing in home-based foster care in the Adelaide metropolitan region between August 2004 and January 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems, suicidal ideation and behaviour, and use of professional services to obtain help for emotional and behavioural problems. RESULTS: 61.0% of children and adolescents living in home-based foster care scored above the recommended cut-off for behaviour problems on the Child Behavior Checklist and 35.2% of adolescents scored above the cut-off on the Youth Self Report. 6.7% of 13-17- year olds in home-based foster care reported a suicide attempt that required medical treatment during the previous year. Caregivers reported that 53.4% of children needed professional help for their mental health problems but only 26.9% had obtained help during the previous 6 months. CONCLUSION: Children in home-based foster care experience high rates of mental health problems but only a minority receive professional help for their problems.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0025-729X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}