Prevalence and Predictors of Service Utilization Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Adolescents in Foster Care Diagnosed With Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders

Antonio Garcia, Mark Courtney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of mental health and substance abuse disorders and service utilization among a racially and ethnically diverse group of foster youth. Self-report data on symptoms and service receipt were used to identify whether groups of adolescents defined by their race and ethnicity were equally likely to receive services given the presence of a mental health or substance use disorder. Study findings showed that Caucasians are more likely to receive mental health services than African Americans. Race was not a significant predictor of accessing substance abuse services. Hispanic ethnicity was not a predictor of receipt of mental health or substance abuse treatment services. Implications for future research, practice, and policy are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)521-545
Number of pages25
JournalJournal of Public Child Welfare
Volume5
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Received: 08/24/09; revised: 02/17/11; accepted: 02/19/11 Financial support for this research was provided by the state child welfare agencies of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the William T. Grant Foundation, and a training grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH16089-28). Address correspondence to Antonio Garcia, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice, 3701 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Funding

Received: 08/24/09; revised: 02/17/11; accepted: 02/19/11 Financial support for this research was provided by the state child welfare agencies of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the William T. Grant Foundation, and a training grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH16089-28). Address correspondence to Antonio Garcia, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice, 3701 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Mental HealthT32 MH16089-28
William T Grant Foundation

    Keywords

    • adolescents
    • disparities
    • foster care
    • mental health
    • service utilization
    • substance abuse
    • teens

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Developmental and Educational Psychology
    • Sociology and Political Science

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