CHLA Care Network: Behavioral Health Specialist – Collaborative Care Model

Making an impact on behavioral and mental health care for children

The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Care Network is actively working to improve where and how children and teens can access behavioral and mental health care.

Offering mental health screenings and interventions in a pediatrician’s office is more supportive and convenient for patients and families. They already know their child’s doctor and are familiar and comfortable with the setting. Plus, referrals for behavioral or mental health services often have a 3 to 6 month wait and can involve questions about insurance, creating a whole host of hurdles for families.

Members of the CHLA Care Network have come together to leverage the Collaborative Care Model, which addresses medical and mental health care together in a primary care setting. This model has been demonstrated to be successful, and CHLA is the first children’s hospital in Southern California to use the model to support children in this way.

In this model, the pediatrician partners with two key team members: a behavioral health specialist and a psychiatric consultant. Together, all three provide integrated, evidence-based behavioral health services within the pediatric medical home.

For additional Information, please reach out to Kevin Widjaja at kwidjaja@chla.usc.edu.