71% Of California Children With Mental Health Needs Did Not Receive Treatment Between 2007 & 2009

Of the 300,000 children (ages 4-11) in California (8.5%) who have mental health needs, 70.8% went without treatment between 2007 and 2009. Of this group, 95% reportedly had health insurance and 96% had a usual source of health care, but faced barriers to treatment such as issues with navigating the health care system, language difficulties, and stigmas associated with receiving mental health treatment. Children of English-proficient parents were more likely to receive treatment (66.5% of children received treatment) than children with parents who had limited English proficiency (88.6% of children received treatment).

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