Integrating Mental Health and Primary Care Services for Children

Pediatricians and family physicians are often the initial points of contact for children’s health problems.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and New York State Academy of Family Physicians have advocated for the integration of mental health treatment for youth into the primary care setting as an efficient and cost-effective model to deliver this service. In 2012, NYHealth awarded a grant to South Oaks Hospital (SOH) to develop and implement a model that integrates mental health services into primary care settings for pediatric patients. Under this grant, SOH embedded on-site mental health therapists in pediatrician offices so that children could get mental health treatment in a timely manner.

Goals: 

• Co-locate mental health therapists into primary care practices for children.
• Demonstrate the cost-effectiveness for integrating mental health services into a primary care setting.