Helping troubled children: divergent discourses.

he history of child mental health services in the United States in the past 100 years is T notable for the development of 2 different traditions, one arising from professionals, the other from advocates. We review these 2 traditions, often divergent, and argue that closer collaboration would benefit the children and families served by these traditions. As troubled children were increasingly seen during the 20th century to have treatable conditions, services arose in mental health settings, juvenile justice, child welfare, and special education. This tradition was led by those with expert knowledge, often linked to academic centers. Nonetheless, most troubled children received no help at all. Controversies arose because these expertdriven services were