Barriers to Mental Health Services for Children in Low-income, Racial-Ethnic Minority Families

Abstract

Accessing mental health care can be difficult for several reasons, but barriers to treatment can be exacerbated by racial-ethnic minority status, poverty, and its associated stressors. Understanding barriers to mental health care for children and their families experiencing poverty is essential to organize resources and provide better support. The first aim of this study was to examine how poverty status, trauma experience, and age affects access to the child’s mental health care and treatment progress. Data were collected on children aged 6 to 18 years old (N = 224) from August 2018 to February 2020 by using archival medical records in collaboration with a local community mental health organization. Children and their parents completed study measures with a therapist at their first appointment. This study utilized a between-groups, quantitative, natural correlational design and results were determined by the use of the Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument (CASII) to measure treatment progress and treatment intensity measured as number of sessions and weeks of treatment as outcome measures. Results displayed that CASII pre-treatment scores were a significant predictor of CASII mid-treatment scores, meaning there was very little change in scores. Poverty, trauma experience, and age were not significant predictors for either change in symptoms over time, or treatment access as measured by treatment intensity, when CASII pre-treatment scores were included in the model. The second aim of this study is to aid the community collaborator in acquiring information that is beneficial in supporting the families to whom they provide services.