Aims: Minority groups are underrepresented in the research on coordinated specialty care (CSC). New Mexico (NM) has the highest percentage of Hispanics and Latinos (48.8%) and the second-highest percent of Native Americans (8.7%) in the U.S. Therefore, NM is in a unique position to better understand the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of Hispanics and other minorities (H&OM) referred to and enrolled in CSC and to learn about the communities in which they live.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to explore differences among 67 White Non-Hispanics and 113 H&OMs referred to CSC. Several variables were explored, such as age at referral, history of substance use, referral source, and enrollment status. Zip code data were also examined to explore differences in poverty and high school graduation rates.

Results: H&OMs were significantly more likely than non-Hispanics to (i) be referred from inpatient and outpatient mental health services rather than communities sources (86% vs 65%), (ii) have a history of substance use (69% vs .46%), (iii) be lost to follow-up after initial referral (64% vs. 28%), and (iv) reside in communities with higher rates of poverty (20% vs. 16%) and lower rates of high school graduates (85% vs. 91%).

Conclusions: These exploratory findings suggest the importance of (i) increasing psychosis literacy among H&OM families and community agencies that serve these individuals, and (ii) identifying ways to engage H&OMs referred to CSC. The community-level differences also suggest that H&OMs may benefit more than their non-Hispanics counterparts from vocational services within CSC and linkage to other community resources, such as food stamps.