UCLA

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.