Enhancing Systems of Care: Supporting Families and Improving Youth Outcomes

Enhancing Systems of Care: Supporting Families and Improving Youth Outcomes

The aim of the study is to improve access to child mental health and substance abuse (MH/SA) care by expanding primary care screening and increasing availability of timely mental health evaluation and treatment.

This is a quasi-experimental, longitudinal study. Identified youth and families will receive the intervention within the four study site clinic locations. Comparison group families will receive usual care. Each primary care study site will have designated Family Support Specialist, Clinical Care Manager and Child Psychiatry resources. The intervention includes an integrated care consultation which combines diagnostic evaluation, family assessment, and multi-disciplinary, team-based treatment recommendations, with follow-up community linkages and support, as indicated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be between ages 0 to 17.5 years
• Referred by primary care physician at one of these Cambridge Health Alliance clinics: Windsor Street Care Center, Broadway Care Center, Everett Care Center, Malden Family Medicine Center
• Referred youth must have a caregiver (a parent of guardian) who agrees to participate in the assessment and treatment process

Exclusion Criteria:

• 17.6 years or older