OUTPATIENT SERVICE USE IN MINORITY-SERVING MENTAL-HEALTH-PROGRAMS

To evaluate the impact of participation in a minority-serving mental h ealth program on patterns of service utilization, data on approximatel y 25,000 clients from a large, ethnically diverse mental health system were examined over three successive fiscal years. Clients seen in pro grams with higher rates of non-white participation received more outpa tient care but less case management than clients seen elsewhere. The r esults were obtained after controlling for sociodemographic and clinic al variables including treatment in an ethnic or language-matched dyad . Whether by selection and training of staff, administrative policy, o perating style, program atmosphere or case-mix, minority-serving progr ams appear to promote distinctive patterns of utilization.