Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Focal Point, Volume 10 Number 02, Portland State University. Regional Research Institute

Research and Training Center - Focal Point

The federal Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP), launched in 1984, has been an important contributor to the movement to make major changes in the way services are provided to children with severe emotional disorders and their families . The principles underlying CASSP call for community-based systems of care that are comprehensive and emphasize coordination among child-serving agencies, service delivery in the least restrictive environment, full involvement of families, and cultural competence. These principles have been widely accepted in the worlds of child welfare, child mental health, juvenile justice and special education.