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. 2019 Jan;25(1):126-135.
doi: 10.1037/cdp0000257.

Translating research to support practitioners in addressing disparities in child and adolescent mental health and services in the United States

Carmen R Valdez  1 , Caryn R R Rodgers  2 , Omar G Gudiño  3 , Patricia Isaac  4 , Natalie A Cort  5 , Manuel Casas  6 , Ashley M Butler  7
Affiliations

Translating research to support practitioners in addressing disparities in child and adolescent mental health and services in the United States

Carmen R Valdez et al. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Despite increased recognition of disparities in youth mental health, racial/ethnic disparities in mental health burden and in mental health service use persist. This phenomenon suggests that research documenting disparities alone has not led to extensive action in practice settings in order to significantly reduce disparities. In this commentary, we present a framework to actively target this research-to-practice gap by describing the development of a resource titled, "Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Racial and Ethnic Minority Youth-A Guide for Practitioners." We begin by presenting social justice as the impetus for eliminating disparities and then reviewing current knowledge and efforts aimed at reducing disparities. Subsequently, we describe knowledge transfer frameworks and goals guiding our work. Finally, we detail the steps taken in our approach to translation and implications for subsequent dissemination of this guide. Translation focused on evidence-based information on (a) mechanisms that contribute to disparities, and (b) strategies for providers to address disparities in their work. We reflect on the framework guiding our translation to offer future directions for others interested in bridging research and action. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Conceptual model informing the development and dissemination of the Practitioner Guide. From “Lost in knowledge translation: Time for a map?,” by I. D. Graham, J. Logan, M. B. Harrison, S. E. Straus, J. Tetroe, W. Caswell, and N. Robinson, 2006, The Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 26, p. 19. Copyright 2006 by Wiley; Now by Wolters Kluwer. Adapted with permission.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Invitation to participate in the discussion group. See the online article for the color version of this figure.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Dissemination of the guide through webinars. See the online article for the color version of this figure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Alegría M, Vallas M, & Pumariega AJ (2010). Racial and ethnic disparities in pediatric mental health. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 19, 759–774. 10.1016/j.chc.2010.07.001 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. American Psychological Association. (2016). Eliminating health disparities among boys and men. Washington, DC: Author.
    1. American Psychological Association (APA). (n.d.). Health care reform: Disparities in mental health status and mental health care. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/gr/issues/health-care/disparities.aspx
    1. American Psychological Association. Working Group for Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Youth Mental Health. (2017). Addressing the mental health needs of racial and ethnic minority youth: A guide for practitioners. Retrieved from www.apa.org/pi/families/resoruces/mental-health-needs.pdf

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