Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project
Grant Status: Completed
Training Category: Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program (PMHCA)
Project Director(s):
Angeline Stanislaus, MD
Missouri Department of Mental Health
1706 E. Elm Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: (573) 751-2794
Email: angeline.stanislaus@dmh.mo.gov
Problem:
Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Program (MO-CPAP) responds to the systemic child and adolescent psychiatry shortage by providing training, consultation, and resources to primary care physicians (PCPs) to empower them to address mild to moderate behavioral health conditions in their primary care practice. Children, adolescents, and their parents are most likely to initiate conversations about behavioral health concerns with their PCP. Without proper training and resources, PCPs are unlikely to assess and treat behavioral health conditions, leaving families without timely access to needed services. The child and adolescent psychiatry shortage requires that innovative methods be identified to address child and adolescent behavioral health needs in new ways.
Goals and Objectives:
(1) Increase the availability and accessibility of regional networks of pediatric mental health teams; (2) Conduct training and provide technical assistance to primary care providers to enable them to conduct early identification, diagnosis, and treatment for children with behavioral health conditions; (3) Provide information to pediatric providers about and assist pediatric providers in accessing pediatric mental health care providers; and (4) Through telehealth, improve access to treatment and referral services for children and adolescents with identified behavioral health disorders, especially those living in rural and other underserved areas.
Methodology:
MO-CPAP officially began in January 2017 with funding from Missouri Foundation for Health. After a six-month planning phase, the phone line opened in July 2018. This proposal will enhance MO-CAP, including (1) face-to-face psychiatry appointments, (2) improved care coordination, and (3) expansion of the target region from 15 counties to 114 counties (state-wide).
Coordination:
MO-CPAP is a coordinated project including the following partners: DMH (applicant); University of Missouri - Columbia, Behavioral Health Response, Behavioral Health Network, and Assessment Resource Center.
Evaluation:
Evaluation will include process and outcome measures as well as continuous quality improvement recommendations. Assessment Resource Center is responsible for building and monitoring all data collection protocols, evaluating data, and reporting key indicators to project leadership.