Published October 28, 2014 This content is archived.
Congratulations to Professor Catherine Dulmus, Dr. Eugene Maguin, and colleagues on the publication of their journal article "Differential outcomes in agency-based mental health care between minority and majority youth," which appeared in Research on Social Work Practice.
Patterson, D.A., Dulmus, C.N., Maguin, E., & Perkins, J. (2014). Differential outcomes in agency-based mental health care between minority and majority youth. Research on Social Work Practice.
Abstract:
Background: Childhood mental health problems represent a significant public health concern globally. There is a converging discussion among researchers and practitioners alike that the research results of effectiveness studies are not fully generalizable and applicable to ethnoracial minority groups in real-world practice settings.
Methods: Archival data on discharges from eight residential programs for children and youth aged 5–18 and operated by a large, child and family human services agency were analyzed to identify the relationship between client demographics and treatment outcomes.
Results: Minority status was associated with lower odds of treatment success and higher odds of disengagement from treatment.
Discussion: The results found that minority youth in residential programs had less favorable outcomes, in terms of both disengagement from treatment and a successful discharge, than White youth. This study calls into question whether current treatments are reaching and best serve ethnoracial minority groups in real-world practice settings.