Cooperation between child and adolescent psychiatry and youth welfare concerning socio-educational residence for children and adolescents

Abstract

Departments of child and adolescent psychiatry and child and youth welfare care for many children and adolescents jointly. Cooperation is particularly important for treating most difficult children and young people. Many of these children and adolescents face difficult living conditions, are often traumatized and exhibit strongly externalising behaviour. Residential extra familial care settings often pose major problems for all professional partners. Departments of child and adolescent psychiatry can make valuable contributions at all levels. First, concerning specific child and adolescent psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, especially in consultant and liaison service and second supporting cooperative institutional care formats. A concrete proposal for a possible cooperation between departments of child and adolescent psychiatry and child and youth welfare care are discussed.