Community Care of Children with Mental Disorders in the United States in the Mid-20th Century
Before the mid-20th century,most children with mental disorders in the United States were insti-tutionalized in facilities such as mental hospitals.However,with the rise in scandals surrounding these institutions,the increasing number of children with mental disorders,and a growing social demand for more humane treatment,the U.S.began to explore alternative models of care.The development and ap-plication of antipsychotic drugs helped stabilize the moods of many children,enabling them to reinte-grate into community life.In 1963,the U.S.passed the Community Mental Health Act,marking the for-mal establishment of the community care model,which was supported by the government,the medical profession,and social organizations.In response to this shift,institutions adapted by adjusting their pol-icies,expanding service departments,and embracing the community care concept.While some critics argue that community care suffers from issues such as a misalignment with the nature of treatment,de-tachment from reality,and operational confusion,the model has effectively facilitated connections be-tween medical institutions and children's families.It has enabled the more rational use of social re-sources,reflected the humanitarian spirit in treating mental disorders,and achieved the intended treat-ment goals to some extent.The implementation of community care not only reflects the influence of the optimistic and radical political climate of mid-20th century America on healthcare but also represents an inevitable consequence of the country's urbanization process.
American ChildrenCommunity careChildren with Mental DisordersDeinstitutionalization
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