Family-Centered Care in Mental Health

Family-Centered Care: focuses on increasing "family involvement in caring for relatives with mental health issues" (McNeil, 2013). 

• "key factor in increasing health and related system responsiveness to the needs of children and families" (MacKean et al., 2012).

Early Intervention: practice setting focused on providing services to families with infants & toddlers

• families play an important role in the child's interpersonal care team

• family-centered care depends on the structure, roles beliefs & family patterns

• very impactful for infant mental health as it sets the environment that influences their development

• parent relationships & interactions influence social-emotional development (a key factor in child development)

• OTs can:

  • help families develop a sense of balance through the establishment of new routines & habits

  • caregiver coaching

Families Play a Role in Other Settings:

• School-based

• Homeless Shelters

• Wraparound

MacKean, G., Spragins, W., L'Heureux, L., Popp, J., Wilkes, C., & Lipton, H. (2012). Advancing family-centered care in child and adolescent mental health: A critical review of the literature. Healthcare Quarterly (Toronto, Ont.), 15 Spec No 4, 64-75. https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2013.22939 

McNeil, S. (2013). Understanding Family-Centered Care in the mental health system: Perspectives from family members caring for relatives with mental health issues. Social Work in Mental Health, 11(1), 55–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2012.720662 

Morin, A.M.F. (2024). Part 1: Mental health practice settings & interprofessional collaboration. [PowerPoint Slides]. https://kodiak.wne.edu/d2l/le/content/114052/viewContent/1657699/View