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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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    8. Dettlaff, Alan J. & Cardoso, Jodi Berger, 2010. "Mental health need and service use among Latino children of immigrants in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1373-1379, October.
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    13. repec:mpr:mprres:5678 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.

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