Alternative care: Models of support for younger children with challenging behaviours and/or in Juvenile Justice

Clarke (1998) reports that in a sample of just over one/third of the children in substitute care in ACT, 26% had a disability, and 38% were recorded as having behavioural difficulties. While not as yet documented in the literature, there is an impression that problem behaviour associated with children known to protective services, is occurring at a younger age than in the past. Children between seven and 12 years of age may develop challenging behaviour.