A conceptual framework for developing and implementing effective policy in children's mental health

This article presents a framework to be used in studying public policy development and implementation in children's mental health. It particularly focuses on policy related to the establishment of community-based systems of care. The framework is based on a review of the literature on policy development and implementation. It focuses on four dimensions: the stages of policy development and implementation, the relationships among different levels of government, the relationships among different service sectors, and variables that affect the likelihood that a policy will achieve its intended effect.