Improving Health System Care Access for Diverse Children and Families at Risk for Developmental Disabilities

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

As many as 1 in 6 children ages 3-17 are at-risk for developmental delays (e.g., speech-language, motor) or neurodevelopmental diagnoses (e.g., ADHD, autism, learning disability, intellectual disability) (Zablotsky, et al., 2019). At elevated risk are children receiving public health insurance or whose families live at <200% of the federal poverty level. This higher risk for developmental delays and disabilities (DD/D) begins at birth, with Non-Hispanic Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native mothers more likely than their White counterparts to give birth early or have low birthweight babies (Ratnasiri, et al., 2018; Ely & Driscoll, 2019). Later, these children’s cognitive performance, academic achievement, and developmental milestones may be significantly affected (Agrawal, et al., 2018; Lampi, et al., 2012; Rabie, et al., 2015). Unfortunately, service disparities for racial and ethnic minority children with DD/D persist across the lifespan and include misdiagnosis (Mandell et al. 2007) and inadequate access to care (Thomas et al. 2007). Embedding psychologists into medical teams is a viable way of increasing access to developmental and behavioral health care services for all children, and ultimately maximizing child outcomes. This symposium will overview three separate studies of such integrated approaches for (a) obstetrics, (b) families, and (c) primary care. Families whose race, ethnicity, language, and/or socioeconomic status may be associated with elevated risk of their children having DD/D are of particular focus across studies. Presenters will discuss future research directions, as well as practice implications.

Sub Unit

• Developmental Disabilities

Chair

• Georgette Richardson, University of Houston

Discussant

• Sarah S. Mire, Baylor University

Individual Presentations

• Neonatal Gestational Age and Birthweight Examined Within an Obstetric Primary Care With Integrated Behavioral Health Services - Presenting Author: Georgette Richardson, University of Houston; Non-Presenting Author: Milena Keller-Margulis, University of Houston; Non-Presenting Author: Stephanie Chapman, Baylor College of Medicine; Non-Presenting Author: Hanjoe Kim, Univerisity of Houston; Non-Presenting Author: Sarah S. Mire, Baylor University; Non-Presenting Author: Faunda Armstrong, Baylor College of Medicine

• Parent Cognitions: What Researchers Need to Know to Improve Service Delivery to Diverse Families with Autism Spectrum Disorder - Presenting Author: Georgina Rosenbrock, University of Houston; Non-Presenting Author: Adam C Garcia, University of Houston; Non-Presenting Author: Fre’Dasia M Daniels, University of Houston; Non-Presenting Author: Sarah S. Mire, Baylor University

• Educational Webinars on Autism Screening, Diagnosis, and Referral Practices for Pediatric Primary Care Providers - Examining Uptake, Learning and, Provider Feedback - Presenting Author: Mycah L. Ayala, University of Houston; Non-Presenting Author: Katherine C Bergez, University of Houston/Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital; Non-Presenting Author: Sarah S. Mire, Baylor University; Non-Presenting Author: Robin Goin-Kochel, Baylor College of Medicine; Non-Presenting Author: Leandra Berry, Texas Children's Hospital; Non-Presenting Author: Sonia Monteiro, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital