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Unfortunately, racial disparities are well documented in the delivery of behavioral health services. This study examines the effects of implementing a decision support process, integrating clinical information into the administration of mental health services, on racial disparities in psychiatric hospital admissions for children in state custody. Differences in a hospitalization prediction model and the proportion of low-risk admissions in Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic youth from 1998 to 2002 were assessed in a statewide sample of 7,653 screenings. Differences in low-risk admissions were assessed after the 1999 initiation of the decision support process. Following the initiation of feedback to clinicians and the use of the Childhood Severity of Psychiatric Illness (CSPI), a decision support tool, the hospitalization prediction model improved significantly. The proportions of low-risk Caucasian and Hispanic youth hospitalized decreased from 1998 to 1999; the proportions of low-risk African American youth hospitalized during this period significantly decreased. In addition to traditional methods of addressing racial disparities in behavioral health care, such as increasing cultural competence in service delivery, providing feedback to service providers to improve the consistency of decision-making may have significant secondary impacts on other system problems--in this case, racial disparity. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)

Prior research on the impact of childhood abuse and trauma has been limited in scope. Previous studies have focused mainly on single forms of adversities. Stressful life events do not [...]

Domestic violence is one of the most common causes of serious injury among women. Domestic violence victims endure physical and psychological sequelae that often go undetected by the health care professionals they encounter. There are many barriers women who are victims of domestic violence face. Women of color encounter additional barriers such as stereotypes that construct domestic violence as a "minority" issue. This article surveys the relevant literature to provide the reader with a review of the current state of knowledge for this special sub-population of domestic violence victims. Health care professionals need to be aware of the issues of this sub-population and be appropriately educated and trained to actively screen them. In addition, health care professionals need to be culturally sensitive to the needs of women of color who may experience domestic violence in order to appropriately screen and refer women for services that meet their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]