Collaborating with Consumers, Providers, Systems, and Communities to Enhance Child Mental Health Services Research

This chapter outlines key principles of collaboration that can guide efforts to involve consumers, family members, providers, administrators, and community members more fully in child mental health services research efforts. It then highlights opportunities for collaboration across the research process, from the development of guiding research questions, to study methods and procedures, to interpretation of study results and dissemination activities. Examples of the challenges that arise in collaborative efforts with youth and their families, providers, systems, and communities are discussed. Finally, a discussion of next steps for child mental health services research is offered.