This dissertation aims to study mental and behavioral health provider characteristics to reduce disparities in mental health access and utilization among children and adolescents in California. Guided by the NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework, this dissertation identifies and addresses complex and multi-interconnected provider factors to improve access to mental health services.

There are three main hypotheses for this project. First, a scarcity of mental health professionals specializing in pediatric and adolescent services per capita is linked to higher odds of unmet mental health needs and relies on increased telehealth services. Moreover, differences in the racial and ethnic diversity of the workforce relative to the population it's serving (index of dissimilarity) may exacerbate mental health needs. The next two hypotheses examine the quality and delivery of mental health care services. Implementation of standardized screening processes is expected to reduce the odds of unmet mental health needs, suggesting that systematic screening can effectively identify at-risk individuals. Lastly, provider reimbursement models differ in quality of care, influencing patient utilization of care.