Examining individual, family, and community predictors of youth receipt of therapy in systems of care

Though a variety of psychotherapy interventions have been empirically supported for youth, the majority of children and adolescents with mental health needs do not receive therapy services to treat their disorder. This study examines the predictors of receipt of therapy services for youth within the Children’s Mental Health Initiative (CMHI), the largest federally-funded effort in the United States to serve youth with serious emotional disturbance. Using data from 1604 youth aged 10 to 17 in 33 CMHI-funded system of care communities, the impact of youth, family and community-level variables on receipt of individual, family, and group outpatient therapy in the first six months of service were examined. Youth who were African-American, had caregivers with less education, or were in families below the poverty level were less likely to receive therapy overall. At the community level, youth in sites that served a higher rate of impoverished families were less likely to receive therapy. Externalizing behaviors uniquely predicted receipt of group therapy above internalizing behaviors. These results highlight populations that may be underserved within systems of care. Limitations and implications are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Fitts, Jessica Jacqueline

Contributors dc:contributor

• Aber, Mark
• Allen, Nicole

• Systems of care
• Youth mental health

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2018 Jessica Fitts

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/102766

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/102766