Bridging the gap between service need and service utilization: a school-based mental health program.
In an effort to bridge the gap between service need and service utilization, an urban based, university affiliated children's psychiatric outpatient clinic has implemented a program which provides mental health services in inner city schools. When compared with the central clinic populations (N = 304), the school sample (N = 44) was markedly socioeconomically disadvantaged, minority, and as psychiatrically impaired as the central clinic population. School based mental health services have the potential for bridging the gap between need and utilization by reaching disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access to these services. Implications for such services are discussed.
Armbruster
P
P
Yale University School of Medicine, Child Study Center Outpatient Clinic, New Haven, CT, USA.
Gerstein
S H
SH
Fallon
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population