Roles, Activities, and Opportunities of Behavioral Health Clinicians in Delivering Continuity of Care

Abstract

Continuity of care is vitally important and allows families to feel safe and supported in a frequently changing environment. Mental health services across perinatal/neonatal settings can address parental mental health concerns, infant development, and infant–parent relationships. Although an integrated behavioral health clinician is the preferred model, at minimum a consult/liaison behavioral health clinician (BHC) is recommended in order to adequately meet the needs of infants and their parents across the continuum of care. All fetal care centers, neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and NICU follow-up clinics should have a BHC who can develop programming that supports the patient experience and evaluates program outcomes through research and quality improvement projects. The push for BHCs in these settings is central to ensuring the highest potential is reached for infants and families alike.