Funded Projects

Problem:

The number of practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists in Colorado is insufficient to meet the existing mental health needs of children and youth in the state. Colorado ranked 48th in the country for overall youth mental health, according to Mental Health America's 2018 "The State of Mental Health in America" report. "quote"

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: Increased timely detection, assessment, treatment and referral of children and youth with behavioral health disorders in pediatric primary care settings and school-based health centers. The related objectives are to increase provider skills and treatment of mild to moderate conditions presenting in primary care and knowledge through training and teleconsultation with specialists and to increase access to behavioral health teams via telehealth. Goal 2: Improved access through telehealth to behavioral health treatment and referral services, especially in rural and underserved areas. The related objectives are to establish mental health teams and support existing teams that offer teleconsultation services to pediatric primary care providers, and to help these providers access the mental health teams. Goal 3: Sustained strategies and interventions that are effective in improving pediatric behavioral health care practice. Related objectives are to complete the project evaluation activities and work with partners to develop a sustainability plan.

Methodology:

This project will continue growth of the current statewide teleconsultation service to span the entire state, including very rural areas, in which mental health teams provide consultation and support for behavioral health concerns to pediatric primary care providers through telephone, asynchronous e- consultation (secure email and electronic health care record-sharing), and telehealth video conferencing. The teams will also continue to serve as a central source of training and information about pediatric mental health care and provide telehealth direct services and in-person direct patient consultation to guide care.

Coordination:

This project will be coordinated by Jennie Munthali (CDPHE), Project Director, and Sandra Fritsch (University of Colorado School of Medicine/Children's Hospital Colorado), Project Director and Medical Director.

Evaluation:

The project has a comprehensive evaluation plan that will be administered by Susan Young, PhD (University of Colorado), Data Manager.