Parents' Perspectives on Access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

• NCJ Number: 242358
• Journal: Social Work in Mental Health Volume: 10 Issue: 1-6 Dated: 2012 Pages: 294-310
• Author(s): Edward Cohen, Ph.D.; Esperanza Calderon, B.A.; Gerardo Salinas, M.S.W.; Saumitra Sengupta, Ph.D.; Michael Reiter, Pharm.D.
• Date Published: 2012
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reports parents' perspectives on access to mental health services for their children enrolled in a State children's health insurance program (CHIP).

Abstract

This article reports parents' perspectives on access to mental health services for their children enrolled in a State children's health insurance program (CHIP). Little has been published about mental health services utilization in states' CHIP programs. Focus groups with parents yielded many contextual factors, confirming previous reports about the importance of the primary care interface and cultural competence. In addition, the findings pointed to the importance of taking seriously parents' perception of severity of the child's problem, reducing administrative barriers to accessing treatment, promoting education about mental health to the community, and eliciting regular input from parents about system performance. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.