200514 Racial and ethnic differences in factors that affect access to community-based mental health services among transitional-age youth

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Yumiko Aratani, PhD , Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
Janice L. Cooper, PhD , Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
This paper examines how factors that affect the type of mental health (MH) services and access to continuous care for transitional age youth (TAY) differ based on race/ethnicity or English proficiency. We conduct multi-variate analysis to estimate how socio-demographic factors impact the likelihood of receiving (1) non community-based mental health (CBMH) services, (2) one-time MH service over a 12 month period; and (3) crisis-stabilization services for White, Black, Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander (PI) youth whose age are between 18-24 in public MH system. Our preliminary findings indicate overall, TAY of color are no less likely to receive CBMH than their white counterparts. However, predictors of access to CBMH services among TAY vary by race/ethnicity or English language proficiency. Among Hispanics, being males and living in rural counties increase the odds of receiving 24 hour MH treatment and receiving crisis intervention. Among non-Hispanic Whites, rural residence is the key determinant of having inadequate access to CMMH services. Among African-Americans, being in child welfare contributes to better access to CBMH services. With the exception of Asian-Pacific Islanders, youth with limited English proficiency are more likely to discontinue mental health visit across racial/ethnic groups. Further, for some youth of color, Medicaid coverage is less predictive of adequate access to care; however, among non-English speakers, having Medicaid coverage is an important determinant of continuous care. These findings deserve further study and appropriate policy responses.

Learning Objectives:
1. Compare racial and ethnic differences in factors that affect adequate access to community-based mental health services for transitional age youth using California administrative data. 2. Develop a policy recommendation to better serve transitional age youth with mental health needs among more vulnerable groups.

Keywords: Mental Health Services, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a PhD in sociology and have worked on research projects that examine mental health service delivery systems for children and youth. I have given numerous numbers of presentations at conferences such as Annual meetings at American Sociological Association (ASA); the Society of the Study of Social Problems (SSSP); Mental Health America.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.