What Factors Predict Exposure to Mental Health Services?
Download Handouts: 169kb pdf Session Number: 55 Room: Salon B Presenting: Maureen Marcenko; Gunnar Almgren; Michelle Garrison All Authors for this paper: Maureen Marcenko; Gunnar Almgren; Michelle Garrison Presentation Type: paper presentation Synopsis: Objective: To examine foster child and system level variables to identify factors predictive of mental health diagnosis and treatment. Method: Using linked records from child welfare, Medicaid, and community mental health, and controlling for state mental health region, 6,153 children, 5 to 18 years of age, in foster care >90 days were studied. Results: Children with a psychiatric diagnosis or prescribed a psychotropic medication were more often male and Caucasian, they had more placements, with exposure to group care, and were higher utilizers of medical care. Substantial utilization disparities were revealed for African American and Native American children regardless of number of placements. Conclusions: Under representation of child
