An ad hoc committee will organize a consensus study to review the relevant research literature on the identification, prevention, and treatment of parental depression, its interaction with parenting practices, and its effects on children and families with a special focus on:

(1) clarifying what is known about interactions among depression and its co-occurring conditions, parenting practices, and child health and development,

(2) identifying the findings, strengths, and limitations of the evidentiary base that support assessment, treatment and prevention interventions for depressed parents and their children,

 (3) highlighting disparities in the prevalence, prevention, treatment, and outcomes of parental depression among different socio-demographic populations (e.g., race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status),

(4) examining strategies for widespread implementation of best practice and promising practice programs given the large numbers of depressed parents, and

(5) identify strategies that can foster the use of effective interventions in different service settings for diverse populations of children and families.

The committee will give particular attention to both opportunities for intervention as well as barriers to implementation, including public policy strategies, structure of clinical systems, and funding mechanisms that will maximize the likelihood of large-scale implementation of effective programs.  The committee will also consider key issues that need to be resolved in incorporating interventions into health and social service environments that serve children and families.

The project is sponsored by The California Endowment, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The approximate start date for the project is October 1, 2007.

A report will be issued at the end of the project in approximately 20 months.

Read more information about the study, including short biographical descriptions of the committee members, and the schedule of meetings.