Evaluation of a family support service: short-term outcome

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term impact of two types of family support services (FSS) for children with behavioural problems (N = 51 and 49 respectively). These were compared with children (N = 40) matched for presenting problems and referred to specialist CAMHS in a locality without FSS. Pre and postintervention measures were the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOSCA), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and a service utilization checklist. Although all three groups were associated with decrease of child behavioural scores, the two family support services provided an earlier response and resulted in significantly higher reduction of HoNOSCA and SDQ scores. The two FSS types implemented different 'levels' of interventions, as FSS-B resulted in a more favourable short-term outcome and appeared to operate more closely to specialist services, while FSS-A appeared to adopt a more preventive role. Family support services have an important role within a comprehensive child mental health service, but the specificity of their interventions for different target client groups requires further investigation.