A Wraparound care coordination program was found to be largely equitable across racial and ethnic groups.

Background

Children of color face disparities in behavioral health outcomes and access to high quality behavioral health treatment, when compared to their white peers. Wraparound care coordination is a comprehensive, team-based, and strengths-based approach to support children with complex behavioral health conditions and their families. The study of a state’s Wraparound program assessed whether there were differences in program activities and changes in outcomes measures between non-Latino Black, non-Latino white, and Latino participants.   

Findings

This study assessed the experience and impact of Wraparound on 1,138 youth enrolled in the program and their caregivers. Racial-ethnic differences were not found for “time until first meeting” and “number of days enrolled” in services. However, non-Latino white participants had more care coordination meetings than other groups.

For measures of behavioral problems and functioning, trauma symptoms, and caregiver strain, Wraparound supported positive outcomes. No significant differences among groups were found in the amount of change between intake and six-month follow up. However, non-Latino white youth had higher levels of trauma symptoms at follow up compared to other groups.

Perceptions of care were largely equitable across groups, though there were disparities in two out of eight measures of satisfaction with services for caregivers of non-Latino Black youth. No differences between groups were found for rates of nonmutual discharge.

Program/Policy Takeaways

Wraparound care coordination shows promise for supporting positive and equitable outcomes across racial and ethnic groups. Further research can help build the evidence base for Wraparound’s impact on addressing health disparities and how implementation can be refined to best serve children and families of color.