California reducing disparities project (CRDP): African Americans engaged in creating community-defined practices for eliminating mental health disparities

Background: Numerous reports over the decades have identified key factors within the formal mental health system that act as impediments to access by African Americans and their families. In its relationship to the African American population, the formal mental health system has offered inaccurate diagnoses, disproportionate findings of severe illness, greater usage of involuntary commitments, and a woeful inadequacy of service integration. Utilizing a community-based participatory research (CRDP) approach allowed the African American population to identity a myriad of recommendations to help re-design a state mental health system to provide culturally grounded prevention and early intervention services.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was utilized framed according to an ecological design to engage statewide African American participation in defining community practices for the prevention of mental issues. We conducted statewide regional focus groups (N=35), small group meetings (N=6), one-on-one interviews (N=43), public forums (N=9), and self-administered surveys (N=635) to collect community-level data from the population.

Results: Over 274 strategies and strategic policy recommendations were identified to create a comprehensive population report and policy agenda, as well as resources and tools for prevention and early intervention based on culturally grounded community practices. Non-traditional community partnerships emerged to create a network of “Healing Circles” and integrated practices across disciplines with mental health consumers and survivors.

Conclusion: When given the opportunity community will grow new evidence for mental health interventions based on what works for them, which will provide new learning for promising practices to eliminate disparities. Process and practices will be presented.