ETHNIC-SPECIFIC MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICES - EVALUATION OF THE PARALLEL APPROACH FOR ASIAN-AMERICAN CLIENTS

Little research has addressed whether ethnic-specific, parallel servic es would eliminate outcome inequities for ethnic minorities while at t he same time not creating any for White clients. This study examined p arallel services for Asian-American outpatients with respect to client characteristics, types of services utilized, and service effectivenes s. The oft-mentioned heterogeneity of the Asian-American clientele was affirmed. Numerous Asian-White and inter-Asian differences were found in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. There was littl e evidence of differential care provided to Whites and Asians as refle cted in the types of services received. With respect to service effect iveness, few significant ethnic group differences were found in premat ure termination, early termination, treatment duration, or clinical ou tcome. These results were found even when the effects of certain demog raphic and clinical variables (that have tended to covary with ethnici ty) were controlled. The notable exception involved Southeast Asian cl ients who were more likely to terminate early in treatment compared wi th other Asian groups and received significantly less individual thera py, the most intensive and expensive type of treatment, than White cli ents. The findings strongly suggest that for most Asian-American group s equitable care and service effectiveness can be achieved through the use of ethnic-specific services. However, even within the parallel co nfiguration, further service modifications and innovations may be need ed to better address the mental health needs of Southeast Asian refuge e communities.