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Utilization of Mental Health Services and Mental Health Status Among Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care: A Parallel Process Latent Growth Modeling Approach

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Abstract

This longitudinal study examined the parallel trajectories of mental health service use and mental health status among children placed in Florida out-of-home care. The results of growth curve modeling suggested that children with greater mental health problems initially received more mental health services. Initial child mental health status, however, had no effect on subsequent service provision when all outpatient mental health services were included. When specific types of mental health services, such as basic outpatient, targeted case management, and intensive mental health services were examined, results suggested that children with compromised functioning during the baseline period received more intensive mental health services over time. However, this increased provision of intensive mental health services did not improve mental health status, rather it was significantly associated with progressively worse mental health functioning. These findings underscore the need for regular comprehensive mental health assessments focusing on specific needs of the child.

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Funding

The funding was provided by Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (Grant No. MED 134).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Svetlana Yampolskaya & Patty J. Sharrock

  2. Department of Mental Health, Law, & Policy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

    Colleen Clark & Ardis Hanson

Authors
  1. Svetlana Yampolskaya
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  2. Patty J. Sharrock
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  3. Colleen Clark
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  4. Ardis Hanson
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Correspondence to Svetlana Yampolskaya.

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Yampolskaya, S., Sharrock, P.J., Clark, C. et al. Utilization of Mental Health Services and Mental Health Status Among Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care: A Parallel Process Latent Growth Modeling Approach. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 48, 728–740 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-016-0699-3

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