The Impact of Parental Illness on the Child and Family: Implications for System Change

2004

This monograph reports on a national, multidisciplinary meeting, hosted by the Center for Mental Health Services and the National Cancer Institute, focused on the economic, psychosocial, and medical impacts of a parent's serious illness on families with young or adolescent children. Participants included leading researchers studying the effects of parental illness, service providers who have designed exemplary programs, representatives of federal and private agencies that have an impact on social policy, and family members coping with parental HIV/ AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and depression. The discussion showed that there is often not a clear boundary between professionals and consumers when parental illness is involved. As a result of the meeting's deliberations, the document summarizes key research findings, provides descriptions of programs, identifies gaps and challenges, and offers future recommendations for needed research, education and training, services, policies, and advocacy. The document is designed to raise awareness and suggest action steps to address critical issues.

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