After nearly 10 years of disseminating information about the evidence-base underpinning child and adolescent mental health services, FOCUS is changing direction. This is partly in response to the cessation in 2007 of the generous funding from the Gatsby Foundation.

FOCUS is concentrating its effort into two main activities:

1. Supporting quality improvement in CAMHS through the new Quality Improvement Network for Multi-agency CAMHS (QINMAC)

2. Providing training to CAMHS workers of all disciplines

• Quality Improvement Network for Multi-agency Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

The Department of Health and the Gatsby Foundation have provided funding to establish a network of community-based CAMHS. The network looks at the quality of the services that are provided, and helps staff plan improvements for the future.

• FOCUS Email Discussion Group

An email discussion group for members to discuss issues in child and adolescent mental health, and exchange advice and information.

FOCUS is moving towards a full annual programme of events and training and our conference section is now housed within the new College Education and Training Centre.

• Current events

If you would like to discuss collaborative training opportunities within CAMHS, please contact Catherine Ayres, Training Programme Manager on tel: 020 7977 6658, or email: cayres@cru.rcpsych.ac.uk

• FOCUS Publications

Over the years FOCUS has produced a range of publications concerning child and adolescent mental health with an emphasis on incorporating evidence-based research into everyday practice.

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Resources

• Useful Links