Abstract
Problem:
The majority of the state of Indiana is designated as a mental health shortage area and Indiana lags behind the nation in multiple pediatric mental health indicators. Indiana also suffers from multiple crosscutting inequities in behavioral healthcare access related to racial, economic, and geographic factors. A main cause is the insufficient behavioral health work force, which often leads to children and adolescents seeking behavioral healthcare through primary care providers, many of whom do not feel comfortable or do not have the sufficient training to diagnose, treat, and refer children with behavioral health conditions.
Goals and objectives:
1) Promote behavioral health integration into pediatric primary care by supporting providers through rapid teleconsultation and evidence-based education to diagnose, treat, and refer children with behavioral health conditions in the state of Indiana. 2) Achieve health equity in program utility and outcomes related to racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in access to care.
Methodology:
The Indiana Behavioral Health Access Program for Youth (Be Happy) will provide rapid telephone consultations with board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists to guide pediatric providers in the care of behavioral health problems. Be Happy will also provide monthly, evidence-based provider education services and ongoing referral supports. Be Happy will work closely with state partners and key stakeholders to enhance outreach and improve coordination of access to multiple community and behavioral health resources for providers and their patients, including connection to appropriate telehealth-delivered services when indicated.
Coordination:
The Indiana University subrecipient will meet biweekly with DMHA Project Directors and monthly with Indiana Department of Health Title V Maternal and Child Health program representatives to ensure optimal coordination of program activities. Be Happy will also convene an advisory committee of key stakeholders to support the statewide implementation of Be Happy consultation and educational programming, guide decisions about analysis and interpretation of evaluation and quality improvement data and establish a sustainability plan. The diverse group of stakeholders will include several existing partners, such as the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Primary Health Care Assn., Rural Health Assn., Indiana Commission on Improving the Status of Children, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion subject matter experts. Our team also will coordinate regularly with the HRSA PMHCA network and the National Network of Child Psychiatry Access Programs to ensure alignment with best practice.
Evaluation:
Data regarding teleconsultation and provider education utility and outcomes will be continuously collected and reviewed at frequent predetermined intervals (biweekly, monthly, and quarterly) to assess progress towards program goals and guide decision-making in revising activities and redirecting program resources to under-performing program components as needed. Outcome data will be communicated to HRSA, stakeholders and the general public in reports, web materials, and peer-reviewed publications.