title: Depression and Service Use Among Caregivers Dually Involved in the Child Welfare and Mental Health Systems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression, use of mental health services, and correlates of service use among caregivers who are dually involved in the child welfare and child mental health systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study analyzed baseline data from 129 caregivers who reported child welfare system involvement and were participating in a Multiple Family Group service delivery model to reduce childhood disruptive behavior disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight (60.5%) of caregivers met or exceed the clinical-cut off for depression; of them 50 (64.1%) reported utilizing mental health services for their emotional health. Race, employment status, and CES-D score were significantly associated with lifetime mental heath services use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression rates exceeded those found among caregiver involved in either the child welfare or child mental health systems. Rates of service use were higher than found in existing research. As expected, racial differences and depression were associated with service use; contrary to expectations, full time employment was not associated with service use. Discrepancies between this study and existing research are discussed, as are practice, policy, and research implications.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acri
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gopalan
authors.affiliation: Hunter College.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lalayants
authors.affiliation: McSilver Institute for Poverty, Policy, and Research.
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McKay
keywords: Caregiver depression; caregiver mental health; child mental health; child welfare