221085 Technology-facilitated assessments in behavioral healthcare: Co-occurring disorders in low-income mothers

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Erik L. Carlton, MS , Center on Drug & Alcohol Research and Department Health Services Management, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Background: Low-income mothers face multiple major barriers to self-sufficiency and family stability, including co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Technology-facilitated assessments can enable agencies to more fully identify and address health problems. Utilization of such systems can offer insights into the health of clients, informing clinical practice, training, and administrative priorities.

Objective: This paper examines factors related to co-occurring disorders and other major barriers to self-sufficiency and family stability among low-income mothers. Findings have the potential to inform decision making in behavioral health services working with low-income mothers, especially those with specific and significant co-occurring disorders.

Methods: Study participants are low-income mothers (n=7,086) assessed between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2009 as participants in a targeted and collaborative community-based program. Statistical tests for independence and bivariate correlations were conducted to determine which factors were more likely to be associated with health outcomes in low-income mothers.

Principal Findings: Compared to working mothers, non-working mothers are more likely (p<.001) to have problems with mental health, physical health, learning problems, and unmet basic needs. No significant difference was found for substance abuse when comparing non-working mothers to working mothers. A somewhat larger proportion of working mothers experienced intimate partner violence compared to non-working mothers, though this finding was also not significant.

Discussion/Conclusions: Low-income mothers face multiple and significant, co-occurring barriers to self-sufficiency and family stability. Failure to fully assess for these barriers can undermine treatment. Implementing systematic methods to comprehensively assess for co-occurring disorders can facilitate behavioral healthcare.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Communication and informatics
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to define and apply the concept of technology-facilitated assessments. 2. Participants will be able to describe the use of technology-facilitated assessments in behavioral healthcare settings. 3. Participants will be able to list the strengths and weaknesses of technology-facilitated assessment methods.

Keywords: Mental Health, Assessments

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am Co-Director of Data (i.e. Director of Research & Evaluation) for the UK Targeted Assessment Program (TAP) in the Center on Drug & Alcohol Research. TAP annually administers targeted assessments and services to 3,000 low-income mothers who have problems with mental health, substance use/abuse, intimate partner violence, and learning problems. I am also a trainer marriage and family therapist.
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.

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