Mission
Promote the mental health and health of minority and immigrant children and adolescents through:
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Understanding
cultural influences on development
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Determining
culturally-specific risk and protective factors
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Examining
the role of culture in parenting behaviors
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Preventing psychopathology for minority and immigrant youth
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Translating
empirical evidence into culturally-informed interventions
Key Facts
27% of the U.S. population is represented by at least one racial/ethnic minority group
“The child population within the United States is even more diverse and is projected to experience the majority-minority crossover in 2020”
States with Majority-Minority Status
States with Majority-Minority Status of Youth under 18
Asian Americans are the fastest growing minority population.
Research Areas
Ethnic-Minority
Youth Development
Not only do ethnic-minority youth have different developmental trajectories, they are also at an increased risk for developing psychopathology, due to ecological and social contexts.
Cultural Factors
in Parenting
Disparities in service utilization exist, in that ethnic minorities are less likely to use mental health services. Factors to seek help can be influenced by stigma, barriers, beliefs in mental health problems, and parenting factors.
Culturally-Adapted Interventions
Efforts to increase engagement include culturally-based adaptations. Existing adapted interventions have been found to be effective at decreasing mental health problems, but are not systematic.