Helping young people in out-of-home care: basic elements

Children and adolescents (young people) who experience maltreatment early in life and are subsequently placed in out-of-home care (OOHC) are specifically at risk for poor mental health outcomes. Although rates vary by survey and location, up to half of these young people have clinical-level mental health difficulties, and another 20% to 25% have difficulties approaching clinical significance. These difficulties are characterized by high symptom complexity and severity, and include maltreatment-related mental health symptoms. Many young people in OOHC are difficult to engage with and retain in treatment, compounded by a lack of specialized mental health services3 and a history of problematic social interactions with supports.