The effect of services coordination teams on outcomes for children in state custody

The author describes the results of a quasi-experimental study of the effects of interorganizational services coordination teams on the quality and outcomes of services to children in state custody. The findings suggest that services coordination teams improve access to services and enhance service outcomes. Children served by services coordination teams were more likely to be placed in less restrictive residential settings, more like to be placed in settings appropriate to their levels of psycho-social functioning, and more likely to receive needed services from the state's mental health system. Moreover, those children with the most serious externalizing problem (i.e., aggressive, antisocial) behavior made more progress when served by services coordination teams.