Abstract
American Indian (AI) parents of children involved with child welfare were compared to White, Black and Hispanic parents on mental health and substance abuse problems and access to treatment. Data came from the National Study of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of children aged 0–14 years involved with child welfare. Weighted statistics provided population estimates, and multivariate logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of caregivers receiving mental health or substance abuse services. There were significant disparities in the likelihood of receiving mental health, but not substance abuse, services. Unmet need for mental health and substance abuse treatment characterized all parents in this study. AI parents fared the worst in obtaining mental health treatment. Parents of children at home and of older children were less likely to access mental health or substance abuse treatment.
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Acknowledgements
This work was partially supported by a Scholars Award from the William T. Grant Foundation (PI, Libby), a grant from the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (47400; PI, Spicer), and NIMH grant MH59672 (Caring for Children in Child Welfare, PI, John Landsverk). We gratefully acknowledge staff and participants of the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect 2004 Special Research Meeting, especially Kathryn Dowd. This document draws on data from the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), developed under contract with the Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services (ACF/DHHS). The information and opinions expressed herein reflect solely the position of the authors, and should not be construed to indicate the support of or endorsement by ACF/DHHS.
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Libby, A.M., Orton, H.D., Barth, R.P. et al. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to Parents of Children Involved with Child Welfare: A Study of Racial and Ethnic Differences for American Indian Parents. Adm Policy Ment Health 34, 150–159 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0099-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0099-2