CFS Faculty Among Authors for Special Issue of the Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research
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CFS staff are among contributors in a Special Issue of the Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research (JBHS&R) that is focused on qualitative methods in children’s mental health. JBHS&R is a peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary journal which publishes articles on the organization, financing, delivery, and outcomes of behavioral health services.
CFS's Dr. Sharon Hodges served as editor of the October Special Issue, which presents research findings based on qualitative research that are of significant interest or concern in children’s mental health.
"The goal of this special issue is to examine the process of conducting research in the real-world settings of children's mental health and to learn more about those settings from the people who are part of them, “said Hodges in her introduction, Challenge and Opportunity in Children's Mental Health Research. "Contributors to this special issue were given a difficult task. Rather than write a paper focused on either the findings of their research or on the advantages and challenges of a specific qualitative approach, the authors were asked to do both.”
Dr. Hodges, along with CFS Chair Dr. Mario Hernandez and Dr. Allison Pinto, and Caitlin Uzzell from the University of Texas authored a brief report on The Use of Qualitative Methods in Systems of Care Research. In an effort to understand the impact of qualitative methods on the field of children's mental health, authors reviewed 100 presentations addressing qualitative methodologies published from 1988 through 2003 in Proceedings from the University of South Florida’s Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health conference. Held each year in an effort to improve mental health services and outcomes for children and their families, the national conference hosts researchers, policy makers, service professionals, educators, and family members who gather to share their research findings, insights, and experiences. Each year, the Proceedings offer presentation summaries submitted for publication from discussions, papers, and posters presented.
Based of their findings, authors shared their belief that a gap exists between what is known – and what is needed to be known – about systems of services and supports in children’s mental health.
“To bring about positive change in the structure and function of systems that serve children with serious emotional challenges and their families, we must build a body of knowledge that provides a rich and in-depth understanding of the ‘how and why’ of services and supports and the context in which services and supports are best implemented,” write the authors. “It is hoped that this review of qualitative research will contribute to our understanding of the contributions that qualitative methods can make to improving services. A useful next step would be to review qualitative studies published in a select group of peer-reviewed journals considered key to children’s mental health.”
As one of the seven regular papers in the issue, CFS's Dr. Teresa Nesman authored A Participatory Study of School Dropout and Behavioral Health of Latino Adolescents, which aims to provide a better understanding of factors that impact Latino dropout rates by reporting findings from interviews conducted with at-risk Latino students in the Hillsborough County School District.
“Findings from this study suggest the need to enhance current efforts in dropout prevention to include specific adaptations for Latino students and families from early intervention to intensive treatment,” said Dr. Nesman. Areas for intervention that were brought out included the facilitation of caring and supportive relationships with adults, targeted assistance in planning for and making academic progress, addressing acculturation and identity development, and making cultural adaptations in existing curricular and behavioral interventions.
"I would like to thank Mario Hernandez for supporting this special issue and also Bruce Lubotsky Levin for the myriad of adjustments he made as Editor-in-Chief," added Hodges.
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research is the official journal of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. For additional information, the special issue citation is: Hodges, S. (Ed.) (2007). Qualitative methods in children's mental health [special issue]. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 34(4).
The Department of Child and Family Studies at the USF Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute is committed to improving the well-being of individuals, children, and families within communities across the country through promoting respect, inclusion, development, achievement, mental health, and an optimum quality of life.