The Role of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in Systems of Care.

To effectively fulfill various roles in systems of care, a child and adolescent psychiatrist must first define "system of care" and become familiar with the child-serving systems that make up the overarching system of care. They should know what roles are currently being fulfilled by child and adolescent psychiatrists, recognize the challenges they may face while fulfilling these roles, and use this knowledge to become catalysts for system improvements. This article discusses these points in greater detail.

E-cigarette Use and Beliefs Among Urban Public High School Students in North Carolina.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence, attitudes, and risk factors associated with electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among high school students in tobacco growing state.

Methods: A 47-item e-cigarette questionnaire modeled after Monitoring the Future with additional information about demographics, adolescent and family nicotine use, and school and health care interventions was designed, piloted, and administered to public high school students (N = 3,298) in May 2013, in an urban county in North Carolina.

Results: Completers (2,769/3,298) were aged 16.

Patient and family advocacy: working with individuals with comorbid mental illness and developmental disabilities and their families.

There are many factors to consider when working with individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities and their families. Working in collaboration with individuals and their families using a patient- and family-centered care approach is vital. This approach informs the professional's values and practice patterns thereby allowing them to help the individual and family deal with common challenges and stresses such as establishing relationships with care providers, ensuring coordination of care, family concerns, knowledge of important systems of care, and the need for advocacy.

Sensitivity of a system of care in recognizing communication disorders in children with serious emotional disorders.

This study evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of a system of care (SOC) in identifying communication disorders in children with serious emotional disorders (SED). Speech/language screenings were completed on 39 children. Children showing possible communication disorders received comprehensive speech-language evaluations.

Telepsychiatry and e-mental health services: potential for improving access to mental health care.

Reforming mental health care is a focus of many ongoing initiatives in the United States, both at the national and state levels. Access to adequate mental health care services is one of the identified problems. Telepsychiatry and e-mental health services could improve access to mental health care in rural, remote and underserved areas.