Significant gaps exist in children's mental healthcare, and barriers prevent access to existing services. Current federal initiatives call for state governmental agencies to recognize and resolve deficits in their systems of care. Previous work has acknowledged some of the problems in meeting the mental health needs of children within a system of…

Prepared for joint hearings on the impact of the proposed budget cuts on programs affecting children, these background materials describe the main programs which serve children in five general areas. These areas are health services for mothers and children, child nutrition programs, aid to families with dependent children, day care and other child…