Impact of COVID-19 on Referral Patterns and Service Delivery for an Integrated Behavioral Health Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Pediatrics

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted family support systems and healthcare access.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) serves vulnerable populations requiring integrated care.
• Understanding evolving family needs during public health crises is crucial for effective service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the needs of WIC families before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate the impact of remote service delivery on accessing integrated behavioral health interventions.
• To examine changes in referral patterns, particularly concerning social determinants of health.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of WIC family needs and referral data pre- and post-pandemic onset.
• Assessment of telehealth's effectiveness in delivering integrated behavioral health services.
• Statistical analysis of referral trends for social determinants of health.

Main Results:

• Referrals for social determinants of health significantly increased post-pandemic (13.8%) compared to pre-pandemic (4.1%, p < .05).
• Transition to telehealth services by providers adequately supported WIC families.
• Integrated behavioral health interventions remained accessible through remote service delivery.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic heightened awareness and need for addressing social determinants of health in WIC families.
• Telehealth proved a viable and effective modality for delivering essential behavioral health services to WIC participants.
• Continued integration of behavioral health within WIC services, leveraging telehealth, is recommended to support child and caregiver psychosocial well-being.