Barriers to Service Utilization and Child Mental Health Treatment Attendance Among Poverty-Affected Families

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The majority of children who initially engage in mental health treatment in the United states drop out prematurely, a problem further exacerbated among children living in poverty. The current study examined the relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, barriers to treatment use, and session attendance. METHODS: Data were obtained from participants (n=225) of the 4R2S field-trial. Barriers were measured using the Kazdin Barriers to Treatment scale. RESULTS: Barriers endorsed by families attending less treatment primarily align with practical rather than perceptual obstacles. Critical events linked to lower attendance include moving to far from clinic, having a job change, and a child moving out of the home. CONCLUSIONS: Child mental health programs serving low-income families may consider structural modifications to allow for greater family support as well as flexibility in treatment delivery leveraging technology. Future research is needed to evaluate barriers to treatment and alternate modalities in relation to service utilization.