68% Of Youth In Los Angeles Child Welfare System Met Criteria For A Behavioral Health Condition

About 68% of children in the Los Angeles County child welfare system met the diagnostic criteria for one of four common behavioral health disorders. About 30% had a mood disorder; 20% had an anxiety disorder; 9% had behavior disorders; and 8% had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with prior involvement with the county Department of Mental Health (DMH) received more services regardless of diagnosis. Children age 15 and older received more services than younger children. However, younger children were more likely than older children to receive family therapy.

These findings were reported in “Service Receipt and Mental Disorders in . . .