| Abstract: | Efforts to enhance the quality of mental health care provided to children and youth require an understanding of the nature and impact of existing clinical services. The Practice and Research: Advancing Collaboration (PRAC) study described by Garland, Hurlburt, and Hawley (2006) is currently documenting the diverse treatment practices used in community settings. The study reflects the use of a hybrid design that integrates methods commonly used in treatment outcome and services research paradigms. This article discusses some of the key issues, directions, and challenges associated with efforts designed to enhance the quality of usual care illustrated in their article. Suggestions are made to encourage integrative investigations in the context of practice-based research networks devoted to promoting effective child and adolescent treatment. |
