Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Children and Youth

Description

The purpose of this paper is to provide healthcare providers and stakeholders with a practical, organizational framework for developing integrated care systems where the behavioral health needs of children and youth are identified and treated effectively in the context of their whole health. Using the principles and philosophies of the System of Care approach for children with behavioral health conditions and the Chronic Care Model of organizing services for people with chronic health conditions, this paper describes five core competencies of integrated care systems for children with behavioral health issues.