Addressing Gaps in Culturally Responsive Mental Health Interventions in the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Mental health challenges have been recognized as one of the most prevalent issues impacting children and families within the United States. Children and families of color are disproportionately affected by this due to lack of access to preventative and ongoing supports, and programs that can help address their overall well-being. These issues are even more severe for those that are at risk or interact with the child welfare system. Social workers use various clinical modalities to assess and support them. In the recent years, child welfare agencies have turned to Evidence based programs (EBPs) as a best practice to meet the needs of children and families. The Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse, established by the Administration of Children and Families is a landmark effort to review and promote such EBP's that prevents foster care placements, including mental health programs. While the Clearinghouse has reviewed 141 programs and services, out of which 71 have been rated as promising, supported, or well-supported, there is a dearth of culturally responsive programs that have met the Clearinghouse criteria. Given the overrepresentation of African American and Native American Families in the child welfare system, and the critical role of the Clearinghouse in reviewing and promoting EBPs, this paper highlights the philosophical, administrative, cultural and logistical barriers for culturally relevant programs to be accepted into the Clearinghouse. It also provides specific recommendations on how the Clearinghouse and researchers can build EBPs that account for the intersection between mental health, social location and cultural identities of the children and families that social workers serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]