Abstract
This paper examines racial and ethnic disparities in continuation of mental health services for children and youth in California
and how English language proficiency moderates the effect of race/ethnicity on the continuation of service. While previous
research indicated racial/ethnic or geographic disparities in accessing mental health services among children and youth, few
studies specifically focused on the continuation of mental health care. The authors used administrative data from California
county mental health services users under age 25. Applying logistic regression, English language proficiency was found to
be the major determinant of continuation of mental health services in this age group. With the exception of children of Asian
descent, non-English speaking children and youth of diverse racial/ethnic background were significantly less likely to continue receiving mental health services compared with White English-speaking peers, even after controlling for sociodemographic,
clinical and county characteristics.
and how English language proficiency moderates the effect of race/ethnicity on the continuation of service. While previous
research indicated racial/ethnic or geographic disparities in accessing mental health services among children and youth, few
studies specifically focused on the continuation of mental health care. The authors used administrative data from California
county mental health services users under age 25. Applying logistic regression, English language proficiency was found to
be the major determinant of continuation of mental health services in this age group. With the exception of children of Asian
descent, non-English speaking children and youth of diverse racial/ethnic background were significantly less likely to continue receiving mental health services compared with White English-speaking peers, even after controlling for sociodemographic,
clinical and county characteristics.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s11414-011-9261-z
- Authors
- Yumiko Aratani, National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 215 W 125th street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Janice L. Cooper, The Carter Center Mental Health Liberia Program, One Copenhill, 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA
- Journal The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research
- Online ISSN 1556-3308
- Print ISSN 1094-3412