Facilitators and barriers to family engagement and retention of young children in mental health care: A qualitative study of caregivers’ perspectives

ABSTRACT

This study examines facilitators and barriers that influence family engagement and retention of children in mental healthcare from the parent and caregiver perspective. Researchers recruited and interviewed parents and caregivers (n=18) from urban community health and early childcare centers. The study team analyzed the data and identified barriers to retention in care, including stigma, lack of integrated health care services,and a shortage of providers with the expertise in early childhood mental health care. Social workers, case managers, parent peers, and community support groups helped facilitate parent and caregiver engagement and retention of children in care. Education,community support programs, and integrated healthcare systems would improve access to quality early childhood mental health care.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregivers
• early childhood
• mental health
• parents
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Beth Dworetzky at Family Voices for her detailed review and constructive feedback on this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Research Fund, Health Resources in Action.