Admission and Discharge Criteria for Children's Mental Health Services: A Review of the issues and Options

This paper examines issues involved in the establishing of admission and discharge criteria for children's mental health programs. Four basic approaches to the establishment of such criteria was discussed. The conclusion of the analysis was that the present state of knowledge does not permit very accurate identification of the type of program that will best meet the needs of particular individuals. Instead, it was recommended that the emphasis in the children's mental health field be on the development of a full range of programs with children basically being given an opportunity first in the less restrictive, more community-based, and family-focused programs. Such an approach helps protect the rights of children and families and is consistent with a growing body o f findings that suggest children can benefit from less restrictive programs than those in which they have often been placed.