Child Welfare Populations

Anxiety disorders involve disturbances in the capacity to regulate anxious states, and result from complex interactions among biological, genetic, familial, temperamental, development, and environmental factors (source). Anxiety disorders are the most common diagnosed disorders in adolescent populations, including the child welfare population, which this assignment will focus on (source). The prevalence rate for anxiety disorders in the child welfare population is between 9% and 20% (source). Youth in foster care are a frequently marginalized population that encounters extensive stressors both past and present. These stressors negatively affect their health and mental health care needs. The traumatic family histories and accumulated losses of many youth in foster care result in increased risk for mental health problems (source). Research demonstrates among youth in the child welfare system, 61% of 17 year olds have at least one lifetime mental health disorder (source). Youth existing foster care do not leave their psychological problems behind them and these problems can exacerbate by the change in
Disproportionality disparities are also found as African American children are the largest racial group in care but the rate of mental health service use in lower than white children in foster care (source). These disparities may reflect biases as some professionals may view emotional and behavioral problems in mental health for white youth but not for youth of color. A three state study found that children in foster care have three to seven times as many acute and chronic health conditions and emotional adjustment problems than other children receiving Medicaid (Enligh, Morreale, & Larsen, 2003). In addition multiple placements may disrupt the continuity of mental health care