Project Description

The program will:

(1) increase intervention in physician’s practices for young children in Wake County with developmental problems, and

(2) work to increase the supply of local providers trained with the most current and effective intervention strategies .

Additionally, since children living in poverty are particularly at risk for developmental problems, this proposal targets providers who care for a significant number of low-income children.

The proposed project includes the following activities:

• Recruit primary care and mental health providers who serve a significant number of low-income children;
• Train primary care physicians to recognize young children with social, emotional and behavioral problems, provide brief, effective intervention when appropriate and refer to more specialized services when that is necessary;
• Train mental health providers in effective practice for intermediate and longer term intervention for social, emotional and behavioral problems;
• Train primary care providers and mental health providers to use effective practice management strategies (appropriate coding, claims filing procedures; etc.) in order to minimize barriers to providing services for children;
• Provide training in three phases for both primary care and mental health providers including: Implementation/Training; Mentoring/Consultation; and Surveillance/Support;
• Participate in Wake County’s Young Child Mental Health Initiative funded by the Triangle United Way.

Expected Outcomes and Measurements

• Increase number of low income children who receive timely referrals for brief interventions conducted in primary care offices;
• Increase number of low income children who receive timely referrals to mental health providers for intermediate or longer term intervention;
• Increase number of low income children who secure care for social/emotional/behavioral problems;
• Increase number of primary care physicians and mental health providers who are participating in training/mentoring;
• Increase in perceived competence of primary care physicians and mental health providers to identify, treat, and/or refer children with behavioral/mental health needs;
• Increase number of comprehensive developmental/medical evaluations and completed Individual Family Service Plans for low income children;
• Reduce time between identification of developmental issues and intervention;
• Increase in family/parent satisfaction with providers care of their children’s behavioral and emotional health concerns;
• Increase provider satisfaction with practice management issues (coding, claims processes, reimbursement, etc.) related to providing care for children with social, emotional and behavioral problems.