Abstract
We assessed parent satisfaction with children’s mental health services with a new instrument: The Youth Services Survey for Families (YSSF). The Dillman method was used to administer the survey to a random sample of 1,500 parents of Medicaid youth from Kentucky’s 14 community mental health centers (CMHCs). The response rate was 37% (n = 534 parents). A factor analysis of YSSF identified five parent-perceived factors: (a) Appropriateness, (b) Outcome, (c) Participation in Treatment, (d) Access, and (e) Cultural Sensitivity. About 70% of parents reported a high level of endorsement with the Appropriateness factor, but only 47% reported high levels of endorsement with the Outcome factor. Results were interpreted as providing support for the reliability of the YSSF in evaluating children’s mental health services in CMHCs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bickman, L., Gutherie, P. R., Foster, E. M., Lambert, E. W., Summerfelt, W. T., Breda, C. S., et al. (1995). Evaluating managed mental health services: The Fort Bragg experiment. NY: Plenum Press.
Breda, C. S., & Bickman, L. (1997). Termination of mental health services for children. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 6, 69–87.
Brunk, M. (2001). Guidelines for the YSS & the YSS-F. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved July 1, 2003 from the Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program Web site: http://www.mhsip.org.
Brunk, M., Koch, R., & McCall, B. (2000). Report on parent satisfaction with services at community services boards. Richmond, VA: Virginia Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Research and Evaluation.
Buck, A. J. (1997). Utilization of Medicaid mental health services by nondisabled children and adolescents. Psychiatric Services, 48, 65–70.
Byalin, K. (1993). Assessing parental satisfaction with children’s mental health services: A pilot study. Evaluation and Program Planning, 16, 69–72.
Corrigan, P. W. (1990). Consumer satisfaction with institutional and community care. Community Mental Health Journal, 26, 151–165.
Fisk, T. A., Brown, C. J., & Cannizzarro, K. (1990). Creating patient satisfaction loyalty. Journal of Health Care Marketing, 2, 5–15.
Harrington-Godley, S. H., Fiedler, E. M., & Funk, R. R. (1998). Consumer satisfaction of parents and their children with child/adolescent mental health services. Evaluation and Program Planning, 21, 31–45.
Heflinger, C. A., Sonnichsen, S. E., & Brannan, A. M. (1996). Parent satisfaction with children’s mental health services in a children’s mental health managed care demonstration. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 23, 69–79.
Huang, L. H., Woolverton, M., & Hepburn, K. (2002). Outcomes in a system of care. Washington, D.C: Georgetown University, National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health.
Kaufman, C., & Phillips, D., (2000). Survey of state consumer surveys. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.
Lebow, J. L. (1983). Research assessing consumer satisfaction with mental health treatment: A review of the findings. Evaluation and Program Planning, 6, 211–236.
Martin, J. S., Petr, C. G., & Kapp, S. A. (2003). Consumer satisfaction with children’s mental health services. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 20, 211–226.
Measelle, J. R., Weinstein, R. S., & Martinez, M. (1998). Parent satisfaction with case managed systems of care for children and youth with severe emotional disturbance. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 7, 451–467.
Pascoe, G. C. (1983). Patient satisfaction in primary health care: A literature review and analysis. Evaluation and Program Planning, 6, 185–210.
Rey, J. M., Plapp, J. M., & Simpson, P. L. (1999). Parental satisfaction and outcome: A 4-year study in a child and adolescent mental health service. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33, 22–28.
Young, S. C., Nicholson, J., & Davis, M. (1995). An overview of issues in research on consumer satisfaction with child and adolescent mental health services. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 4, 219–238.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Riley, S.E., Stromberg, A.J. & Clark, J. Assessing Parental Satisfaction with Children’s Mental Health Services with the Youth Services Survey for Families. J Child Fam Stud 14, 87–99 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-005-1124-x
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-005-1124-x