Pediatric Mental Health Care Access - MHMR of Tarrant County proposes to implement the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) Initiative - HealthySteps - to strengthen pediatric behavioral health integration within primary care settings across Tarrant County and surrounding communities. Building on MHMR's existing PMHCA infrastructure and Help Me Grow North Texas (HMG-NTX) system, the project will improve access to developmental, behavioral health, and family support services for children ages 0-5, while supporting pediatric providers serving children up to age 12 when clinically appropriate. The project addresses significant gaps in early childhood behavioral health services, including shortages of pediatric behavioral health specialists, limited integration of behavioral health within pediatric primary care, fragmented referral systems, and barriers to accessing timely developmental and behavioral health services. These challenges are particularly acute in medically underserved communities and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) throughout the service region. HealthySteps Specialists will be embedded within participating pediatric practices to provide developmental and behavioral health screening, developmental guidance, parent support, care coordination, referrals, and follow-up services. Providers will have access to behavioral health consultation, training, and care coordination support through MHMR's existing PMHCA infrastructure. Families will be connected to developmental, behavioral health, and community-based services through coordinated referral and navigation processes supported by HMG-NTX and community partners. By the end of the project period, MHMR will ensure that at least 90% of children ages 0-5 seen in participating practices receive standardized developmental and behavioral health screening, 80% of children identified with concerns receive appropriate follow-up care and care coordination support, and utilization of behavioral health consultation services increases among participating providers. The project will also strengthen provider capacity, improve referral completion, increase family engagement, and enhance access to developmental and behavioral health services. Through integration of HealthySteps within pediatric primary care, the project will improve early identification of developmental and behavioral health concerns, strengthen provider capacity, reduce fragmentation across healthcare and community systems, and improve developmental, behavioral, and social-emotional outcomes for young children and their families. The initiative aligns with HRSA PMHCA priorities and Texas Title V priorities related to early childhood development, behavioral health, coordinated care, and health equity.
