Community asset mapping of mental health providers: Development and utility vis-à-vis disparities and school absenteeism

Community asset mapping is an important method to chart resources to identify functional domain support options for a geographical area. The present study had two primary aims: (1) to develop a community asset map of mental health providers in a large geographical and mostly urban area; and (2) to utilize data from the map to identify whether disparities in provider density were associated with chronic school absenteeism rates. The first aim involved documentation of provider variables. The second aim involved the development of choropleth maps to visually represent school catchment zones that had greater or lesser provider density vis-à-vis community-based mental health services. Catchment zones with less provider density, even when controlling for school size, related to higher rates of chronic absenteeism. Findings from the present study illustrate the clinical and research utility of community asset mapping and carry implications for school-based health service delivery models.