Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Children and Youth

Behavioral health conditions among children and adolescents today occur at an alarming rate, affecting their overall growth and development, and leading to higher mortality rates in adulthood. To change this trajectory, children’s healthcare must shift from treatment of chronic conditions to prevention and early identification of mental and physical illnesses. 

Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Children and Youth: Concepts and Strategies, a new resource from the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions, provides robust information on:

• Models of organizing service delivery for youth.
• Five core competencies of integrated care systems for children with behavioral health problems.
• Financing mechanisms that support integrated care systems for children with behavioral health problems.

By implementing integrated care systems, your organization can position itself to have the greatest impact on the whole health of children, adolescents, their families, and your communities. This report is designed specifically for community behavioral health and health centers to learn an approach to delivering care that comprehensively addresses the primary care, specialty care, and social support needs of children and youth in a continuous and family-centered manner.

For more information on integrated care for youth, visit the CIHS web page on children and youth.

Do you already have an innovative or helpful approach to providing integrated care for children and youth? Talk about it! Email integration@thenationalcouncil.org to share your story.