Preventive pediatric mental health care: A co-location model

Area of Science:

• Pediatric mental health
• Infant development
• Integrated care models

Background:

• Current recommendations support integrating mental health professionals into pediatric settings.
• Pediatric offices offer a non-stigmatized environment for early childhood mental health services.
• Barriers include time constraints, reimbursement issues, and inadequate training for pediatricians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a successful co-location program integrating infant mental health services within a pediatric practice.
• To present preliminary data on patient demographics, screening outcomes, and treatment referrals.

Main Methods:

• A psychologist specializing in infant mental health was co-located in a large pediatric practice.
• The psychologist provided screening, assessment, referral, and treatment for children aged 0-3 years.
• The program aimed to address developmental and mental health needs within the pediatric setting.

Main Results:

• The program successfully integrated mental health services into a pediatric practice.
• Preliminary data on patient population, screening scores, and disposition were collected.
• The co-location model demonstrated potential for addressing early childhood mental health challenges.

Conclusions:

• Co-location of infant mental health professionals in pediatric settings is a viable model for improving access to care.
• This integrated approach can overcome common barriers to early childhood mental health services.
• The described program offers a successful example of implementing such a model in a real-world setting.