Integrating Behavioral Health Services Within Specialty Practices Serving Pediatric Populations E312

Course Summary

Practice Level: Intermediate

Pediatric patients with specialty care needs experience a high rate of comorbid psychosocial and behavioral health conditions. Children with behavioral health conditions, such as mental health conditions and substance use disorders (SUDs), often face significant barriers to receiving appropriate treatment.  Furthermore, these mental health issues can exacerbate medical symptoms and chronic illness, reduce treatment adherence and effectiveness, and pose serious implications for their overall health.  Addressing behavioral health needs can support improved health and well-being for children with complex medical conditions. Integrating behavioral health care services into medical treatment can help improve care coordination and treatment adherence.  Research on behavioral health integration has led to the establishment of well-developed, effective service delivery models in adults.  However adult models applied to pediatric populations tend to overlook the unique challenges specific to these populations, including developmental considerations and the role of caretakers in effective treatment.

This course, based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Integrating Behavioral Health Services Within Specialty Practices Serving Pediatric Populations, provides clinicians—including social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists—with the latest research and practices to integrate behavioral health services into treatment settings where children are already accessing care.  This learning material outlines the benefits, essential considerations, and unique challenges clinicians must consider when integrating behavioral health care into treating pediatric populations.  It also reviews existing models of care and identifies the key components of successful integrated care models.  Case examples focusing on integrated approaches within specific pediatric specialty care settings or for particular medical conditions highlight key points.

Course Format

This course contains downloadable online lessons (PDF) and a practice test. When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the essential factors, benefits, and unique challenges of integrating behavioral health care in pediatric populations.
2. Recognize existing integrated care models for use with pediatric populations.
3. Identify key components of successful integrated care models.

Course Syllabus

• Introduction
• Existing Integrated Care Models and Frameworks
• Key Components of Integrated Care Models
• Examples of Processes and Programs for Integrating Care
• Specialty Settings and Conditions
• Case Examples of Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Specialty Care Settings
• Discussion and Recommendations
• Conclusion

Author

SAMHSA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA leads public health efforts that advance the behavioral health of the nation and its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on communities in America.

William A. Cook, Ph.D.

William A. Cook, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who worked for 15 years in private practice in Montana before leaving his practice to work full time as the Director of CE4Less. He earned his doctorate degree from Texas A&M University, and focused much of his psychology practice in the area of child and family counseling, as well as psychological testing.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/08/2024–08/08/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credits.

Level Education Group, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0355.

Level Education Group, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0835.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.