Children and families at risk of one problem are increasingly at risk for a number of other problems, so much so that it often is difficult to distinguish between problem domains. To the extent that the dynamics of individual and social problems are interrelated, it makes sense that solutions to these problems must also be integrated and multidimensional. Most services are crisis-oriented. The social welfare system divides problems of children and families into rigid and distinct categories that fail to reflect the interrelated causes and solutions of the problems. There is a lack of functional communication between public and private sector agencies.
Specialized agencies have difficulty crafting comprehensive solutions to complex problems.
And finally, services are insufficiently funded. From the perspective of families, the services they need are often not available or not easily accessed. Further, some services are unacceptable to families who must use them because the services focus on family weaknesses and problems rather than family strengths. They are frustrated that youngsters come to school with problems that interfere with learning, and they acknowledge they are overburdened by high caseloads and constrained by strict rules that control who they can work with, for how long, and what services they can offer. Awareness of the problems of the service delivery systems is growing at the state and national levels, as policymakers search for methods to encourage coherent and comprehensive solutions to the problems of children and families.