Culturally Competent Systems of Care for Children’s Mental Health: Advances and Challenges

Abstract

There has been a remarkable growth in cultural diversity in the United States over the past 20 years. The population of minority groups has increased at a much faster rate than the European-background population in America, and faster even among children and youth. At the same time, minority youth face increasing disparities in their mental health and in access to mental health services. These are related to the multiple challenges they already face in socioeconomic status, but are aggravated by the lack of culturally competent services that can address their specific mental health needs within the context of their culture, family, and community. This paper reviews the current knowledge about the mental health of culturally diverse youth in the United States, and provides guidance on approaches to address the disparities they face.

Cultural competency in clinical consultation at the Alberta Children's Hospital: how to deliver equitable, effective, and adequate health care to minority people

“…Also, Pumariega, Rogers, and Rothe (2005) provide evidence for the failure of the current cultural competence practices. They assert that there are barriers to efficient and effective mental health care for minority children and youth.…”

“…They contend that the few who see the relation between cultural competence and the disparities in health care are working hard to improve services at the systemic and clinical levels. Pumariega, Rogers, and Rothe (2005) make similar assumptions about the importance of cultural competence in reducing disparities in health care. They argue the current disparities in mental health care and the growth in cultural diversity call for the need for cultural competence in health care.…”

“…They argue the current disparities in mental health care and the growth in cultural diversity call for the need for cultural competence in health care. For Pumariega, Rogers, and Rothe (2005), the current growth in ethnic populations requires practitioners to become culturally competent in their services to clients/patients. However, the authors argue that despite the growth in minority populations, particularly among children and youth, the ethnic population does not have equal access to mental health services and programs.…”

“…However, the authors argue that despite the growth in minority populations, particularly among children and youth, the ethnic population does not have equal access to mental health services and programs. Pumariega, Rogers, and Rothe's (2005) analysis of mental health programs for ethnic minority children and youth shows that they have minimal or no access to mental health services because they belong to members of the population with low socioeconomic status, lack of community service facilities, lack of health education and activism, and insufficient culturally competent services and programs that can meet their particular health needs within the context of their cultural backgrounds (p. 539). Also, practitioners from the mainstream population lack cultural competence training.…”

“…Also, explanations of problem behaviors and psychological strategies vary among cultures. For instance, whereas hyperactivity in male children is considered normal by some cultures, it is seen as a behavioral problem for other cultural groups (Pumariega, Rogers, and Rothe, 2005). Combs and Luthans (2007) argue that training or educational programs are important but not enough to promote cultural competence.…”