Can system integration improve mental health outcomes for children and youth?

Objective: This article compares mental health outcomes for children receiving services in two federally funded system-of-care communities to those of children in similar communities. Methods: Children's clinical and functional outcomes over three waves of data collection for 573 children and youth are analyzed using a propensity score matching methodology. Results: Children at one of the two system-of-care sites showed substantially greater improvement than did their matched counterparts. For the other pair, no benefits of the system of care were apparent. Conclusions: The differences in the effectiveness of the system of care between the two pairs of sites may reflect differences in system implementation, especially as affecting service use. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.