---
title: "Does mental health screening and assessment in child welfare improve mental health service receipt, child safety, and permanence for children in out-of-home care? An evaluation of the Gateway CALL demonstration"
description: "This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Gateway CALL intervention, which implemented mental health screening, diagnostic assessment, and referral to treatment practices for children in out-of-home care. The study involved 538 children (birth to 18 years) over a…"
url: "https://bridges4mentalhealth.org/hub/access-to-mental-health-services/does-mental-health-screening-and-assessment-in-child-welfare-improve-mental-health-service-receipt-child-safety-and-permanence-for-children-in-out-of-home-care-an-evaluation-of-the-gateway-call-dem/"
updated: "2026-07-31"
category: Access to Mental Health Services
tags:
  - Audience
  - Child welfare professionals
  - Mental health professionals
---

# Does mental health screening and assessment in child welfare improve mental health service receipt, child safety, and permanence for children in out-of-home care? An evaluation of the Gateway CALL demonstration

This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Gateway CALL intervention, which implemented mental health screening, diagnostic assessment, and referral to treatment practices for children in out-of-home care. The study involved 538 children (birth to 18 years) over a 17-month period.

**Key Findings:**

- **Mental Health Services**: Children in the Gateway CALL group had a greater number of mental health service visits compared to the comparison group, though the likelihood of receiving services did not differ significantly.
- **Child Safety**: There was a higher number of screened-in calls after the intervention in the Gateway CALL group, indicating increased reporting or identification of safety concerns. However, no differences were observed in substantiations of maltreatment.​
- **Permanency Outcomes**: No significant effects were found on permanency outcomes, such as reunification or adoption rates.

 

[Read More](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34628151/)

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