In this course, students gain an understanding of co-occurring psychiatric disabilites and psychoactive substance abuse disorders, severe emotional disturbances affecting children and adolescents and their impact on the lives of people diagnosed with these disabling conditions. This course also provides an overview of emerging policy and practice in behavioral health care, including the historial context in which service systems organize, finance and deliver care; the current approaches to comprehensive treatment and support; the impact of managed care; and community-building, advocacy and systems change. Topics are addressed from multiple perspectives, with a strong emphasis on the perspective of service recipients and their families, as well as service providers, policy makers and the community at large.