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Assessing Parental Satisfaction with Children’s Mental Health Services with the Youth Services Survey for Families

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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.

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Correspondence to Sharon E. Riley Ph.D..

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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

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