Leandra Godoy, Ph.D.

Fellow in Access To Care

Project Details

PROJECT TITLE

Linking Primary Care to Community Based Mental Health Resources via Family Navigation Support

PROJECT SUMMARY

Most children needing mental health services do not receive them; even half of those referred to a mental health provider never follow up. Certified Family Peer Specialists (CFPS)–caregivers of children with mental health needs who support families in navigating mental health systems– show promise in improving access to care but have not been widely evaluated. This pilot integrates CFPSs into a psychiatric access program that facilitates referrals from primary care to outpatient mental health services. The study will assess whether CFPS support is associated with improved follow-up at outpatient mental health visits for youth age 1-18 years compared with treatment as usual (TAU) and will identify predictors of follow-up. Families referred for mental health services will be randomized into CFPS (family receives 3 months of support from a CFPS) or TAU (family receives calls from care coordinator at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months post-referral) to assist in connecting with mental health services. Assessments will be gathered at enrollment and 3 months.

The main outcome is attendance at initial mental health visit, but child mental health outcomes and factors that explain why some families access care will also be examined. Families will be interviewed about their experiences with CFPSs and accessing mental health care. Findings will be used to improve efforts to connect families from primary care to mental health care and will provide preliminary data necessary to prepare a grant application for a full-scale randomized-controlled trial.

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