This study sought to determine what proportion of children and youth who have distress symptoms and/or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which often lead to later behavioral and physical health problems, do not receive behavioral health services.
In this cross-sectional study of 11,896 children and youth, no current clinical behavioral health contact was reported for 57 percent of children ages 2 to 9 years old with high ACEs, 53 percent of children ages 2 to 9 years old with high distress symptoms, and 41 percent of children ages 2 to 9 years old with high levels on both indicators. Among youth ages 10 to 17 years old, no current clinical contact was reported for 63 percent of those with high ACEs, 52 percent of those with high distress symptoms, and 62 percent of those who scored high on both. These findings suggest that large portions of the high-risk youth population are not receiving behavioral health services that could improve their developmental outcomes. (publisher abstract modified)