This collection of papers presented at a 1996 conference on children's mental health focuses on models to improve service delivery. Papers have the following titles and authors: (1) "Empirical Evaluation of an Alternative to Hospitalization for Youth Presenting Psychiatric Emergencies" (Scott W. Henggeler); (2) "An Experimental Study of the Outcomes Associated with Three Crisis Intervention Programs for Children in Psychiatric Crisis and Their Families: Preliminary Findings" (Mary E. Evans and others); (3) "The Alternatives to Residential Treatment Study: Initial Findings" (Albert J. Durchnowski and others); (4) "Coming Home: The Full Inclusion of Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances" (William E. Reay and Calvin P. Garbin); (5) "Challenges to the Use of Respite for Children Receiving Short-Term In-Home Psychiatric Emergency Services" (Roger A. Boothroyd and others); (6) "Mobile Outreach for Children and Families: An Effective Approach to Stabilization" (Janice M. Moore and Shelly Morningstar); (7)"Researching a Moving Target: A Study of Inpatient Treatment in the 90s" (Carol Cornsweet Barber and others); (8) "Transition to Adulthood: How Are Youth with Severe Emotional Disabilities Different from Non-Disabled Youth?" (Mieko Kotake Smith); (9) "Effective Transition" (Starr Silver); (10) "Transition to Adulthood: Issues of Youth with Mental Illness" (Ann Vander Stoep); (11) "Mental Health Service Utilization by Transitional Youth" (Maryann Davis); (12) "Best Practices for Navigating Rough Waters: Transition of Youth with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders into Adulthood" (Hewitt "Rusty" Clark); (13) "Adolescent Suicide: The Implications of Coping, Family Functioning and Their Interactions for Prevention and Intervention" (Ronald F. Bobner and others); (14) "Gender Appropriate Services for Adolescents with Serious Emotional Disturbances: A Gender Competency Model" (Patricia M. Wilson and others); and (15) "Multicultural Mental Health Training Program: A Comprehensive Training Program for Improving Service Delivery to Ethnic Minority Children and Families" (Richard Briscoe and others). (Individual papers contain references.) (DB)