Parents are often surprised to learn that there are no universal practices for child mental health and substance abuse issues and that some current practices are not based on a solid theoretical or research base. The truth is that there are a lot of services and programs for children and these services range in type, focus, how long they last and how effective they are, among other factors. In many cases, we just don’t have the information we need to make decisions about what is the best treatment for our children. It is sometimes difficult to know where the best place to turn for help and who is the most qualified provider.

We have come a long way in the past few decades and know more than ever about what are the best practices for children and specifically, what types of treatment work best for specific problems. Unfortunately, although there are many good providers, there still remains a gap between knowledge and practice. Just like choosing the best pediatrician, medical specialist or dentist, as a parent or caregiver, you also should be able to choose the best mental health provider for your child.

What are best practices? What do we mean by "evidence-based," "best" or "promising" practices in mental health? How do I know how to find the best services in my community?

Click on the links to the right to find out more.