Engaging Parents in Mental Health Services: A Qualitative Study of Community Health Workers ’ Strategies in High Poverty Urban Communities

AbstractEmpirical engagement-promoting strategies in child and family mental health services have been identified largely within the context of clinic-based services delivered by mental health professionals. However, the magnitude of unmet youth mental health need necessitates expanding the scope of mental health services, and the associated engagement strategies, beyond traditional models and service providers. The present study aimed to extend our understanding of engagement strategies to a school-based mental health service model, using a community health worker (CHW) workforce implementing an early intervention program with parents and school-aged children (K-4) in high poverty urban communities. Qualitative semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 16 CHWs to capture their descriptions of the engagement strategies they utilized with parents throughout program implementation. Transcripts were coded and themes were identified following procedures for thematic analysis. Thematic analyses revealed ten themes describing a range of engagement strategies falling into two overarching categories: (1) rapport building, and (2) responsive delivery. Themes within the rapport building category included non-judgmental supportive listening, increasing social proximity, praise, privacy and confidentiality, and leveraging relationships. Themes within the responsive delivery category included flexibility, consistency, advocacy, incentives, and meeting needs. Findings provi...

Source: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research - March 8, 2021 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research