TYPE OF MALTREATMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICE USE FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER-CARE

This study examined predictors of utilization of mental health service s among children and adolescents in foster care. Of particular interes t was whether the type of maltreatment was related to utilization of s ervices. Subjects were 662 children ages 2-17 who were in foster care for at least 5 months. Service utilization, demographic, and behaviora l data were collected through interviews with the subjects' caretakers . Type of maltreatment data were collected from Child Welfare case rec ords. Fifty-six percent of the subjects had received mental health ser vices. Children removed from their homes due to sexual and/or physical abuse were more likely to receive services than were those who were r emoved due to neglect and caretaker absence. Clinically significant be havior problems were associated with greater likelihood of receiving s ervices, except for the sexually abused group who were very likely to receive services regardless of their behavior problem score. Sexually abused youth also received a higher number of outpatient visits than d id neglected youth. In sum, youth who have experienced ''active'' type s of maltreatment are more likely to receive mental health services th an are those with ''passive'' types of maltreatment, even when the eff ect of severity of mental health problems is controlled.