Reducing Disparities in Child Developmental and Behavioral Health

Tamar Ginossar, Ph.D.
Department of Internal Medicine

In collaboration with Drs. McClain & Shi, the Center for Development and Disability & Sara Nelson, Sonia Medina, Azucena Molinar, & Veronica Salazr, La Comunidad Habla Community Organization

Supported by DHHS/NIH/NCRR grant #1 UL1RR031977-01, The University of New Mexico, Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC)

Background: 

• Most children who need evaluation and treatment for behavioral and developmental disorders do not receive them, with extreme unmet needs among Hispanic preschool-age children.
• Community identified need-working in collaboration with La Comunidad Habla.
• Parental service-utilization is related to knowledge, perceptions of stigma, and perceptions of etiology.
• The role of information needs and seeking is unknown.

Methods: 

• Focus groups with parents and caretakers in the community.
• Analysis of calls to the UNM CDD information service.
• Qualitative and quantitative analyses.