Emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children in the child welfare system: Points of preventive intervention

Research is demonstrating more clearly than ever before the association between abuse and neglect and serious emotional and behavioral problems in children. Studies suggest that from 30% to 60% of children currently entering the child welfare system demonstrate some form of psychiatric disorder. At the same time, there is evidence that the child welfare system is failing to address the needs of these children in their care. This article proposes three points of preventive intervention for a child welfare system response and describes elements of each.