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.
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