Social Capital and Help-Seeking Behavior Among Urban, Minority Parents Participating in the CONNECT Program: The Role of Informal Community Supports

ABSTRACT

This study identified human, financial, and social capital correlates of agency-based, help-seeking behavior among minority parents in an urban community. Sixty-six parents participating in a community-based, case-management intervention (the CONNECT Program) were recruited using purposive sampling. Social capital theory guided the selection of variables in our model. Significant predictors of greater help-seeking behavior include higher household income, greater financial distress, and greater formal advice networks, yet fewer informal advice and informal help networks. Understanding the human, financial, and social capital factors associated with help-seeking behavior has implications for strengthening informal support networks within communities to complement formal agency-based services.

KEYWORDS:

• Community practice
• formal supports
• help-seeking
• informal supports
• minority
• service use
• social capital

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the New York Community Trust (Grant #: P13-000796). We would like to acknowledge the CONNECT Program staff: Edna Torres, MSW, Nyema Hughes, Aisha Reed, and Cleopatra Acquaye-Reynolds for their commitment to improving services for CONNECT participants, the host agency, and the local community.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the New York Community Trust (Grant #: P13-000796). We would like to acknowledge the CONNECT Program staff: Edna Torres, MSW, Nyema Hughes, Aisha Reed, and Cleopatra Acquaye-Reynolds for their commitment to improving services for CONNECT participants, the host agency, and the local community.