PERCEPTIONS AND USE OF COMMUNITY-AND SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AMONG URBAN AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE YOUTH AND FAMILIES

Understanding youths' awareness and use of behavioral health services is important for improving services and engagement. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with students, parents, and teachers/staff in an urban area to understand awareness and use of a school's Native-tailored and - staffed school-based behavioral health center (NT-BHC) and community-based services. Results showed overwhelmingly positive responses regarding NT-BHC staff and services, with concerns focused on too few staff and services, and on privacy and confidentiality, as well as important differences in awareness and use of behavioral health services among youth, parents, and teachers/staff, valuable for improving engagement with and services for AI/AN youth.