Presenters
- Joseph Evans, PhD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
- Rachel Valleley, PhD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Summary
There are 74 million children and adolescents under the age of 18 in the U.S., comprising 24% of the overall population (Census, 2019). Estimates are that approximately 20% of this group has a diagnosable behavioral health disorder. There is a disparity, however, in the number of BH training programs that are designed to educate professionals in child-adolescent assessment and treatment. This disparity is further exacerbated in the lack of training for BH professionals currently practicing in pediatric primary care settings. The majority of clinical psychology, counseling, psychiatry, SW, MFT, and psychiatric NP programs have an emphasis on adult mental health disorders. Similarly, highly recognized training programs in primary integrated BH care (such as Mountain View, UMass, AIMS, Cherokee, APA Div 38) also have a major focus on treatment of adult MH disorders. Consequently, many BH professionals entering or currently practicing in primary care are not well-prepared to work with children, adolescents and families. By way of example, a review of accreditation standards of CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) indicates no required child-adolescent therapy coursework at the Master’s level. Needed, therefore, is pediatric training at both the graduate education and practitioner levels for BH professionals . This presentation will discuss the development of a Training Manual designed for use in graduate education training programs and/or as education for practicing BH clinicians in primary care settings. The training manual is divided into 13 chapters. For clinicians who are new, or who are planning, to integrate into primary care practices, there are chapters related to: 1. An introduction to models of Integrated BH in primary care, 2. Terminology & Definitions commonly used in primary care, 3. Developing an Integrated Behavioral Health Clinic 4. Supportive Data Collection 5: Business Models of Integrated BH in Primary Care For BH professionals already integrated into primary care, the following chapters are applicable as continuing education: 6. Integrated Behavioral Health: Clinic Operations 7: Successful Behavioral Health Providers – Characteristics and Competencies 8: Developing Clinic and Community Relationships 9: Screening Measures for Pediatric BH Disorders 10: Pediatric Coding and Diagnosis 11: The Electronic Health Record (EHR) 12: Working in the Medical Clinic – Terminology 13: Medication Management in Pediatric Primary Care This manual is designed is to be accompanied by a series of video modules that address specific BH disorders commonly found in pediatric care: A. Externalizing Disorders ADHD Oppositional defiant disorder Conduct disorder B. Internalizing Disorders Anxiety Depression OCD Habit Disorders C. “Other” Pediatric BH issues Sleep disorders Enuresis Encopresis School issues
Objectives
- Describe the typical child and adolescent behavioral problems typically presenting in pediatric and family medicine primary care clinics.
- Indicate the major clinical practice differences in addressing child and adolescent vs. adult behavioral health disorders in primary care clinics.
- Describe the essential training needs for integrated BH professionals practicing in primary care clinics serving pediatric populations.
