Children’s hospitals across the U.S. are embedding behavioral health services in primary care and community-based settings to intervene earlier and reduce long-term risks. The effort is aimed at addressing the sharp rise in anxiety, depression and suicidal behavior among youths, according to a report from the American Hospital Association.
The report outlines five case studies of hospitals integrating behavioral health services into pediatric care, including colocating clinicians in pediatric clinics, partnering with schools through telehealth and pairing behavioral health support with pediatric specialty care.
Here are the five case studies:
- Nemours Children’s Health (Orlando, Fla.)
Nermours integrates licensed behavioral health clinicians into pediatric primary care, where they screen for concerns and provide short-term therapy during routine visits. Its Pediatric Acute Telemental Health program offers same-week telehealth access for urgent behavioral needs. A behavioral health hub connects families to case managers for social support. Nemours is beginning to track outcomes through emergency room utilization, rescreenings and symptom changes, according to the report.
- Children’s Mercy (Kansas City, Mo.)
Through its Illuminate initiative, Children’s Mercy has embedded behavioral health clinicians in pediatric clinics and schools, launched a centralized intake model and added 48 inpatient psychiatric beds. One program provides same-day behavioral interventions during primary care visits. Another particle hospitalization program supports children needing intensive care. The system reported more than 2,100 visits, reaching more than 80,000 children, with early results showing reduced wait times and discipline referral in seven of eight schools.
- The University of Texas System and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Austin)
Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine provides in-school telehealth visits with behavioral health providers for students identified by counselors. Clinicians deliver up to five sessions, with only 7.5% requiring medication management. Now operating in more than 950 districts, the initiative serves 4.5 million students — 82% of Texas’ K-12 population — and provides up to 14,000 sessions per month. Schools now help families enroll on site to prevent drop-off, according to the report.
- Minnesota Mental Health Collaboration Hub (Brooklyn Park)
PrairieCare’s statewide platform connects children in emergency department boarding situations with residential or outpatient behavioral health facilities. More than 275 organizations participate, entering data on capacity and patient needs. The system has processed more than 500 cases and helped reduce boarding time by 55%, improving patient flow and cost efficiency.
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
The hospital’s Early Connections program embeds psychologists in NICU, CICU and specialty clinics to screen families for bonding and mental health concerns. Services include bedside intervention, discharge planning and short-term home visits. Originally reaching 1,800 children, the program is scaling to serve 30,000 children up to age 3 receiving specialty care.
