Examining individual, family, and community predictors of youth receipt of therapy in systems of care
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: Though a variety of psychotherapy interventions have been empirically supported for youth, the majority of children and adolescents with mental health needs do not receive therapy services to treat their disorder. This study examines the predictors of receipt of therapy services for youth within the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI), the largest federally-funded effort in the United States to serve youth with serious emotional disturbance. Using data from 1604 youth aged 10 to 17 in 33 CMHI-funded system of care communities, the impact of youth, family and community-level variables on receipt of individual, family, and group outpatient therapy in the first six months of service were examined. Youth who were African-American, had caregivers with less education, or were in families below the poverty level were less likely to receive therapy overall. At the community level, youth in sites that served a higher rate of impoverished families were less likely to receive therapy. Externalizing behaviors uniquely predicted receipt of group therapy above internalizing behaviors. These results highlight populations that may be underserved within systems of care. Limitations and implications are discussed.
Author: Jessica Fitts
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2921245333