The Call for Papers is closed. If you have any questions regarding your submission, please contact Sandra Dwinell at sdwinell@fmhi.usf.edu or (813) 974-0342.

Letters regarding the status of submissions will be sent by December 15, 2009.

The 23rd Annual Children’s Mental Health Research and Policy Conference seeks to enhance the effectiveness of services and systems for children and youth with mental health challenges and their families. The conference provides an opportunity for dialog between researchers, administrators, policymakers, family members, youth, clinicians and other stakeholders to explore cutting-edge research in the integration of complex systems and policy aimed toward ensuring a collaborative, community-based, culturally competent, family-driven, youth-guided approach to meeting the mental health needs of children and families.

Don't miss being a part of this premier national conference where participants will:

• Learn, inform, network and discuss issues related to research, policy, and practice in children's mental health
• Discuss children's mental health from a systems and community perspective
• Engage in spirited and cutting-edge discussions about new research and policy ideas that are family-driven and youth-guided

The following special interest areas will be highlighted at the conference:

• Research within and across systems, policy and practice
• Research regarding family and youth roles in children’s mental health
• Applying a public health approach to mental health
• Community-based approaches to reducing disparities
• Implementing evidence-based practices within school and community settings
• Youth leadership and transition to independence
• Family-to-family support
• Innovative approaches to research, evaluation and performance measurement in complex settings
• Early childhood mental health
• Substance abuse and dual diagnosis
• Community-based participatory research
• Research on organizational and/or system effectiveness