REFERRAL PATTERNS IN ETHNIC-SPECIFIC AND MAINSTREAM PROGRAMS FOR ETHNIC-MINORITIES AND WHITES

The present study examined the referral patterns of 1,095 African, 2,1 68 Asian, 1,385 Hispanic, and 2,273 White Americans (18 years of age a nd older) in a public mental health system to determine whether group differences in help-seeking and referral patterns were related to part icipation in ethnic-specific versus mainstream programs. Results indic ated that (a) ethnic minorities in both mainstream and ethnic-specific programs were more likely than Whites to have been referred by natura l help-giving and lay referral sources (e.g., family or; friends, heal th services, and social services) and (b) ethnic minorities in ethnic- specific programs were more likely than ethnic minorities in mainstrea m programs to have been referred by natural help-giving and lay referr al sources if they were Asian and Hispanic Americans and self-referred if they were African Americans.