Perspectives on Integrated Behavioral Health in pediatric care with immigrant children and adolescents in a Federally Qualified Health Center in Texas

Abstract

The world’s displaced population has reached a record high. Immigration is under the global lens and part of the public debate more than ever. The existing data on mental health disorders among displaced youth are alarming, and children and adolescents are disproportionately impacted by forces outside their control. In the United States, the recent border crisis has exponentially increased the needs for accessible mental health services for immigrant children, adolescents, and their families. As a result, implementation of integrated solutions for primary and behavioral health care has grown. In this article, we explore the application of an integrated model, the Primary Care Behavioral Health Consultation Model (PCBH) with Hispanic and Latino immigrant children and adolescents and their families in a Federally Qualified Health Center in Houston, Texas. PCBH holds great promise for increasing access to mental health services for immigrant and refugee populations.

Developing an innovative pediatric integrated mental health care program: interdisciplinary team successes and challenges

“…In PCBH, licensed mental health clinicians are embedded in the primary care office and work closely with the Primary Care Providers (PCPs). This model has been shown to be effective for children and adolescents, ( 23 ) and may reduce costs ( 24 ), but more pediatric research is needed. CoCM was initially designed to treat specific mental health conditions, such as depression, in defined patient populations, and differs from the generalist approach in PCBH that readily encourages the mental health provider to treat a range of concerns.…”