Building off of the Aligning Delivery and Financing Systems to Prevent Adverse Child Experiences in St. Louis study, Washington University in St. Louis will study the impact of systemic racism on child mental healthcare and mental health equity. African-American families are disproportionately affected by barriers to preventative services leading to worsening socio-emotional, mental health, and physical health outcomes. This is especially true in St. Louis, Missouri, where a profound history of oppression, systemic racism, and mistrust have exacerbated mental health challenges. Washington University is using a mixed methods approach with three service networks in St. Louis stemming from the Vision for Children at Risk to understand how to disrupt systemic racism as an obstacle to mental health treatment and other support services addressing social determinants of health (SDoH). Researchers will use focus groups and interviews with caregivers and providers in medical, social, and public health sectors as well as interviews with children to complement a policy assessment of service-providing organizations.
This one-year pilot study will be completed in partnership with Missouri Children's Division, St. Louis City and County Family Courts, St. Louis Housing Authority, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Family Forward, Almost Home, Epworth Children & Family Services, One Hope United, Annie Malone, United 4 Children, St. Louis City Department of Health, and local medical care systems.
Principal Investigators:
Patricia Kohl, PhD
Associate Professor, Washington University Brown School of Social Work
Co-Investigators:
Devin Banks, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Jean Hunleth, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor of Surgery and Anthropology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Neha Navsaria, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Project Details:
Year: 2024
Funding Amount: $90,000
Status: Active