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Organizational culture and mental health service engagement of transition age youth: Service provider perspectives

Kim, HyunSoo

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2012, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Social Welfare.
Despite two decades of significant advancements in the development of psychotherapeutic and pharmacological approaches for children and adolescents with mental health problems, the most difficult problem continues to be engagement. However, there is a dearth of research examining factors beyond individual and family level factors. This study addresses this gap by honing in on the organizational level factors to further understand engagement of transition age youth. Engagement in services among transition age youth is particularly precarious, as they are less influenced by their guardians. Ecological perspective posits that there are multiple barriers to service engagement that exist on varying levels of the ecosystem. Building on the Gateway Provider Model, socio-technical theory, and organizational culture theory, the specific aims of this study are 1) to explore how practitioner-level characteristics (a. socio-demographic characteristics, b. professional characteristics) are related to youth service engagement; 2) to explore how organization-level characteristics (a. organization characteristics, b. organizational culture) are related to youth service engagement; and 3) to explore the moderating role of organizational culture on practitioner-level characteristics that affect youth service engagement. A cross-sectional survey research design was used to address the research questions. The data was collected from 279 practitioners from 27 mental health service organizations which represent three major metropolitan areas (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati) in Ohio. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to address a nested (clustered) structure. Findings from the study revealed that a practitioner who had lower case loads and lower concerns of service barriers, and provided more service provision perceived higher level of service engagement. None of the practitioner demographic predictors had a significant effect on perceived service engagement. The practitioners who provided service to the urban population and worked at a mental health clinic setting (vs. outreach setting) perceived a higher level of service engagement. In an organization where the level of professional support and trust was higher and concerns in hierarchy problems were fewer, practitioners perceived that their transition age youth (TAY) clients were more engaged in mental health services. In addition, there were cross-level interaction effects between the practitioners’ professional characteristics and organizational culture. That is, in an organization which has a higher level of professional values, the relationship between more frequent coordination with other organizations and service engagement became stronger. Also, the fact that practitioners who perceive more controls of hierarchy in the organization and have a stronger relationship between resource knowledge and service engagement supports the conclusion that resource knowledge is a better predictor of service engagement in the organization with more hierarchical control. These findings are critical for policy makers, practitioners, administrators, and other allied human service professionals who are responsible for working across systems with youth in transition.
Elizabeth M. Tracy, PhD (Committee Chair)
David E. Biegel, PhD (Committee Member)
Meeyoung O. Min, PhD (Committee Member)
Michelle R. Munson, PhD (Committee Member)
204 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kim, H. (2012). Organizational culture and mental health service engagement of transition age youth: Service provider perspectives [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1329495087

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kim, HyunSoo. Organizational culture and mental health service engagement of transition age youth: Service provider perspectives. 2012. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1329495087.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kim, HyunSoo. "Organizational culture and mental health service engagement of transition age youth: Service provider perspectives." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1329495087

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)