Infusing Mental Health Services into Primary Care for Very Young Children and Their Families

Thinking beyond physical health to include mental health and emotional well-being offers the pediatric clinician different approaches to old challenges and a new lens through which to view infant and parent behavior. Because pediatric primary care is accessible, universally available, has no entrance criteria, and is nonstigmatizing, clinicians often serve as first responders for families in distress. Funding from the Irving Harris Foundation supports training of early childhood clinicians to work in primary care. These early childhood professionals create access to behavioral health services for populations that often face challenges and barriers when trying to access community resources.