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Looking beneath and in-between the hidden surfaces: a critical review of defining, measuring and contextualizing mental health service disparities in the child welfare system

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  • Garcia, Antonio R.
  • Palinkas, Lawrence A.
  • Snowden, Lonnie
  • Landsverk, John

Abstract

Efforts to understand and respond to racial and ethnic disparities in referrals to and use of mental health services among children involved in the child welfare system are constrained by the lack of consistency in defining and measuring disparities and the lack of clarity as to what causal mechanisms sustain patterns of disparate treatment. Recent developments in the field of public health offer some insight as to how our understanding of similar disparities in child welfare may be advanced. Despite advancements, there is still an insufficient knowledge base from which to offer an alternative definition of disparities that illuminates conceptual and methodological innovation in child welfare research. Based on a critical review of the literature, more exploratory and etiological research grounded in implementation of advanced metrics and multivariate methods is warranted to generate a clear definition. Recommendations are offered to address conceptual ambiguity.

Suggested Citation

  • Garcia, Antonio R. & Palinkas, Lawrence A. & Snowden, Lonnie & Landsverk, John, 2013. "Looking beneath and in-between the hidden surfaces: a critical review of defining, measuring and contextualizing mental health service disparities in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 1727-1733.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:35:y:2013:i:10:p:1727-1733
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.07.013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Havlicek, Judy R. & Garcia, Antonio R. & Smith, Douglas C., 2013. "Mental health and substance use disorders among foster youth transitioning to adulthood: Past research and future directions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 194-203.
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    4. Dankwa-Mullan, I. & Rhee, K.B. & Williams, K. & Sanchez, I. & Sy, F.S. & Stinson Jr., N. & Ruffin, J., 2010. "The science of eliminating health disparities: Summary and analysis of the NIH summit recommendations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(S1), pages 12-18.
    5. Shin, Sunny Hyucksun, 2005. "Need for and actual use of mental health service by adolescents in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(10), pages 1071-1083, October.
    6. Hines, Alice M & Lemon, Kathy & Wyatt, Paige & Merdinger, Joan, 2004. "Factors related to the disproportionate involvement of children of color in the child welfare system: a review and emerging themes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 507-527, June.
    7. Morton, Cory M. & Ocasio, Kerrie & Simmel, Cassandra, 2011. "A critique of methods used to describe the overrepresentation of African Americans in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1538-1542, September.
    8. Kim, Hansung & Chenot, David & Ji, Juye, 2011. "Racial/ethnic disparity in child welfare systems: A longitudinal study utilizing the Disparity Index (DI)," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1234-1244, July.
    9. Johnson, Lisa M. & Antle, Becky F. & Barbee, Anita P., 2009. "Addressing disproportionality and disparity in child welfare: Evaluation of an anti-racism training for community service providers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 688-696, June.
    10. Rolock, Nancy, 2011. "New methodology: Measuring racial or ethnic disparities in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1531-1537, September.
    11. repec:mpr:mprres:5678 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Garcia, Antonio, 2009. "Contextual pathways to Latino child welfare involvement: A theoretical model located in the intersections of place, culture, and socio-structural factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 1240-1250, December.
    13. Garland, Ann F. & Landsverk, John A. & Lau, Anna S., 2003. "Racial/ethnic disparities in mental health service use among children in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(5-6), pages 491-507.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Qi & Zhu, Yiqi & Brevard, Kanisha & Wu, Shiyou & Krysik, Judy, 2024. "Risk and protective factors for African American kinship caregiving: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Garcia, Antonio R. & Kim, Minseop & DeNard, Christina, 2016. "Context matters: The state of racial disparities in mental health services among youth reported to child welfare in 1999 and 2009," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 101-108.
    3. Garcia, Antonio R. & DeNard, Christina & Morones, Seth M. & Eldeeb, Nehal, 2019. "Mitigating barriers to implementing evidence-based interventions in child welfare: Lessons learned from scholars and agency directors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 313-331.
    4. Garcia, Antonio R. & Circo, Elizabeth & DeNard, Christina & Hernandez, Natalie, 2015. "Barriers and facilitators to delivering effective mental health practice strategies for youth and families served by the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 110-122.

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