Keeping children and their families engaged in the treatment process is a
major problem for mental health clinics (Kazdin, 1996; Wierzbicki &
Pekarik, 1993). The following study used data collected for the
National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network's Core Data Set to
examine whether racial/ethnic disparities in treatment engagement
exist in children seeking treatment for trauma exposure, as well as
whether disparities persist after accounting for other variables
correlated with length of treatment and premature termination.
The sample consisted of 562 children receiving services from a
child abuse treatment and prevention agency in Los Angeles
County. Our results indicated that African American children were
consistently less engaged in treatment than Spanish-speaking
Latino children. These disparities persisted even after controlling
for other variables associated with treatment engagement outcomes.
Child age, functional impairment, and receipt of group and
field services were also consistent predictors of treatment engagement.