Abstract
Problem Identification
Anxiety disorders (ADs) are the most prevalent mental health (MH) condition worldwide. Justice-involved youth (JIY) incarcerated in juvenile halls in Los Angeles (LA) County, California, who are largely low-income and Latino, are disproportionately affected by ADs, which creates serious, long-term financial and health impacts.
Analysis
Health disparities due to social and institutional inequities, poor living conditions, increased risk behaviors, and higher prevalence rates point to a greater burden of ADs on Latino JIY. Notably, this group is predisposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), a causal factor in AD development, which can be mitigated by parental knowledge of ACEs and healthy youth development (HYD), parental support of youth, and parental utilization of MH services.
Intervention (Solution) Proposal
Parents Empowered Against Adverse Childhood Experiences - LA (PEACE-LA) aims to decrease the prevalence of ADs among Latino JIY in LA County, California by reducing the incidence of ACEs. It will accomplish this through 1) health education classes for Latino parents aimed at improving knowledge about ACEs, HYD, and youth support skills, and 2) advocacy workshops with governmental leaders that create a coalition which promotes policies that increase Latino parents’ access to MH care.
Implementation and Evaluation
PEACE-LA would employ credible messengers (i.e., trusted members of the community) to engage the target groups and operate its programs. The dynamic, 9-person team will practice transformational leadership and be highly connected to organizations in the field. Program fidelity and efficacy will be measured using a variety of assessments, surveys, and checks and balances.