Children’s Mental Health: Prevention, Early Intervention, and Treatment

Each year, 1 in 10 American children experiences a mental illness severe enough to cause some impairment in the child’s ability to function in school, family, and community settings.  Yet only a small proportion of those in need receive treatment. Grantmakers interested in improving children’s mental health have a wide array of options available to them. This Issue Focus illustrates some of the approaches available, including investments in prevention and early intervention programs, helping schools identify at-risk children, improving mental health services for underserved populations, building community service capacity, and promoting system change.