Funded Projects

Behavioral Health Hub Parent Training

Project Year

2022

City & State

Orlando, Florida

Program Name

CATCH Implementation

Topic

Parenting/Parent Education

Program Description

Problem: Nearly 1 in 5 children have been reported to have some mental, emotional and/or behavioral disorder and only 20% of those with a mental disorder receive care from a specialized care provider for mental health. Nine in 10 children receive regular medical care from a PCP, but only 1 in 3 pediatricians report they have sufficient training to diagnose and treat children with mental disorders. Considering COVID-19, behavioral and mental health concerns among children have increased and the demand for competency in delivering behavioral health interventions has grown. In 2021, Mental Health America identified Florida as the 48th worst state in the nation for access to mental health care Nemours Children’s Health has collaborated with the Florida Department of Health Children’s Medical Services to promote a regional Behavioral Health Hub (BHH) to increase access to pediatric mental health services by building the capacity of primary care providers through technical assistance, skills-building training, and tele-consultations. A critical component of the program is to improve the coordination of care among primary care providers and mental health specialists. Much of the focus of the regional Behavioral Health Hub is on building primary care provider capacity, but what about the child caregivers? Child caregivers (parents and guardians) are commonly challenged with the home management of children with anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, autism, and other mental and behavioral health disorders. However, much of children’s mental, emotional and behavioral health is tied to family systems and dynamics. Therefore, coaching caregivers on the use of effective, positive behavior management strategies improves the child’s behavior, promotes improved emotion regulation and developmental skill acquisition and improved child-caregiver bond. Thus, leading to a healthier family and child. The regional Behavioral Health Hub’s interventions directed at building primary care provider capacity will be ineffective if child caregivers have limited health literacy and skills around behavioral management. Providing caregivers identified by the Behavioral Health Hub to have children with mental, emotional and/or behavioral disorders with a better understanding of behavioral management strategies will improve the effectiveness of primary care provider, mental health specialist and parent collaboration to improve the child’s behavior, improve emotion regulation and developmental skill acquisition and improve child-caregiver bond. Primary setting: The evidenced-based parent management training (PMT) workshop will take place in a small group setting with 10 families, encouraging attendance of all caregivers in each family. The small group setting facilitates ease of learning, sharing, and developing a sense of community. The PMTs will be held in evenings and weekends, thus food will be provided as both an incentive and convenience for families. We will provide healthy meal options for families, promoting well balanced meals with fruits and veggies. While caregivers are learning behavior management strategies; children will be instructed in the Zones of Regulation® curriculum. Zones teaches children how to identify and label their emotions, and use coping strategies, thus building their capacity for improved emotion regulation. The PMT will take place in centralized locations on bus routes to facilitate improved access for families with less resources. Number of children affected: Parent groups consist of approximately 10 families with an average of 2 children per family. Providing a series of four, 8- group sessions will impact 80 children and 60-80 caregivers. Project goal: The overarching goal is to improve the capacity of caregivers to parent children with mental, emotional, and behavioral health concerns and collaborate with primary care givers / mental health specialists to address specific needs. Anticipated Outcomes: Child caregivers will have an increase in knowledge, skills and self-efficacy associated with addressing mental, emotional and behavioral health concerns.

Project Goal

Increase access of caregivers with young children with behavioral difficulties (ADHD, ODD, other disruptive behaviors) to parent management training (PMT).

Project Objective 1

By the end of the grant cycle, 80% of caregivers attending the PMT will complete the training.

Project Objective 2

80% of caregivers who complete the PMT training during the grant cycle will report the PMT improved their knowledge of skills to effectively manage behavioral difficulties.

Project Objective 3

30% of the pediatric residents in their 2nd and 3rd year will be trained in the PMT curriculum by the end of the grant cycle.

AAP District

District X

Institutional Name

Nemours Children's Hospital

Contact 1

Lisa Spector

Contact 2

Kelly Rogers