Financing More Integrated Children and Family Services: Current Practice and Opportunities

This article argues that how public services and supports for children and families are delivered is closely related to how they are financed. It is therefore essential to examine how financing systems for education and other children's services inhibit or promote more integrated service delivery systems. Two questions are specifically addressed: (a) How do current financ- ing arrangements present specific legal, political, administrative, and attitu- dinal obstacles to implementing comprehensive, community-based children's service approaches? (b) What are some promising strategies for overcoming these obstacles? The article concludes by noting that alternative financing approaches offer unique opportunities for the educational and psychological consulting communities because of the potential of these mechanisms to foster a more integral role for such personnel in children's service provision.