Risk factors for complex special needs among male children seeking mental health services

Children and youth with complex special needs (CSN) present with mental health issues and experience diverse developmental and physical health challenges, often requiring care from several service sectors throughout their lifespan. Despite the chronic service needs of children with CSN, little is known about the factors that contribute to the need for additional financial support to care for these children. To address this gap in the literature, the present study sought to identify risk factors present amongst children and youth seeking mental health services whose families were referred for complex special needs funding in the province of Ontario, Canada. Using data collected from 1,020 male children in Southwestern Ontario using the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health assessments, the present study examined whether children referred for CSN funding differed from children in clinical care who were not referred for CSN funding. Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that impairments in family functioning (OR = 6.206, CI: 1.827-20.551) were most strongly associated with CSN funding referral. Child challenges in completing activities of daily living were also associated with CSN referral, but this effect was small (OR = 1.063, CI: 1.020-1.100). Implications for decisions around funding allocation with respect to CSN funding in Ontario are discussed.

https://oadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/41025-JoDD-23-2-v12f-17-26-B...