Abstract
Despite federal legislation to equalize healthcare for children with limited English language proficiency, some state healthcare
agencies and programs fall short in providing children’s linguistic services for mental healthcare. While some states have
been aggressive in passing cultural and linguistic laws aimed at providing protection for children, other states have not,
limiting children of all ages to potential substandard care. This research uses state-level data and multivariate regression
analysis to explore why some states are adopting these laws, whereas others are not. We find two dissimilar forces with unrelated
goals must work in tandem to bring about policy change—the desire of civil rights and liberty groups to ensure equality in
the delivery of healthcare services, and the desire of state legislature to reduce healthcare costs.
agencies and programs fall short in providing children’s linguistic services for mental healthcare. While some states have
been aggressive in passing cultural and linguistic laws aimed at providing protection for children, other states have not,
limiting children of all ages to potential substandard care. This research uses state-level data and multivariate regression
analysis to explore why some states are adopting these laws, whereas others are not. We find two dissimilar forces with unrelated
goals must work in tandem to bring about policy change—the desire of civil rights and liberty groups to ensure equality in
the delivery of healthcare services, and the desire of state legislature to reduce healthcare costs.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10488-012-0428-6
- Authors
- Mary Schmeida, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Ramona McNeal, Department of Political Science, University of Northern Iowa, 343 Sabin Hall, Cedar Falls, IA 50614, USA
- Journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
- Online ISSN 1573-3289
- Print ISSN 0894-587X