Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative

Thank you for your interest in the Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (PPC).  Below you will find details, including benefits and requirements, as well as a link to register. 

The Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (PPC) is a program organized by Hackensack Meridian Health and Cooper University Hospital and funded by the NJ Department of Children and Families.  The program aims to improve the comfort and competence of primary care physicians and pediatricians to screen, identify and care manage children with mental health concerns.  Currently serving providers in Monmouth, Ocean, Camden and Burlington Counties, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex and Salem Counties, the PPC is expanding into Bergen, Hunterdon, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Hudson, and Union Counties.  Pediatric providers in 20 New Jersey counties will now have quick access to mental/behavioral health consultative and referral services for the children and families in their care.  The program is available for children up to age 18 and requires the child’s primary care provider (PCP) to universally offer standardized mental/behavioral health screenings, including that of substance use at each child’s well visit.  PCPs refer patients to their regional Hub for access to child mental/behavioral health services, including substance use.  Below you will find a list of the counties and their corresponding Hubs, as well as the leadership teams for each.  

Who's Who at the PPC?

 

2019 NJAAP Champion for Children Video

At the 2019 Children’s Ball, NJAAP was honored to recognize the Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative leadership at Hackensack Meridian Health for their dedication and tireless efforts to make mental/behavioral health care accessible for children across our state through behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care. Under their leadership over the past four years, pediatric practices have screened over 130,000 patients for mental/behavioral health disorders, and mental health consultation services have been provided to more than 7,000 patients of participating pediatric primary care providers.

Please join us in extending congratulations to Drs. Hanbury, Solhkhah, and Kairys!

Meet the Hub Teams

Why Pediatricians and Pediatric Clinicians Choose to Participate in the PPC Hubs

The Hubs provide quick access to psychiatric consultation for pediatric PCPs and facilitate referrals for children/families accessing ongoing mental/behavioral health, including substance use.  The Hubs encourage and support PCPs integrating mental and behavioral health resources into their practices. Pediatricians can make a referral to a Hub for a child or family to access mental/behavioral health services. Hub benefits include: 

  • A child/adolescent psychiatrist available for consultative support through the Child Psych Consult line, staffed Mondays-Fridays from 8am – 5 pm. After hours telephone coverage is available 24/7.
  • A psychologist/social worker available to speak with a referred child’s family regarding the child’s mental/behavioral health concerns and to assist in providing diagnostic clarification.
  • A psychologist/social worker available to assist the pediatrician with care coordination to ensure linkage from the pediatrician’s office to appropriate community mental/behavioral health resources of support.
  • If a case is considered urgent, the Hub will offer a one-time evaluation by a child and adolescent psychiatrist (CAP) at no charge to the patient. Based on the recommendation of the CAP, the Hub staff will work with the family to develop the treatment and care coordination plan.
  • Hub staff will perform routine follow-up phone calls with referred families to monitor patient progress.
  • Continuous education opportunities in care management and treatment in the primary care office for the common child mental/behavioral health issues: ADHD, depression, anxiety, substance use, etc.

What Pediatricians Are Saying About the HUB
What are the Requirements for Participation?

In order to participate in your designated Hub, PCPs must complete the following:

  • The provider will conduct universal mental/behavioral health screening, with PSC, SWYC, and CRAFFT*
  • The provider will submit weekly screening logs to document that mental/behavioral health screening is conducted at every well visit
  • The provider will complete pre/post practice and pediatrician level surveys on screening practices
  • All Hub and MOC participants will receive an educational webinar on implementing screening, as well as resources including standardized screening instruments and anticipatory guidance materials.  MOC Participants will receive additional technical assistance and individual level support.

* Pediatric Symptom Checklist, Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children, CRAFFT substance abuse screening tools.

If you register for the Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative, you are eligible to participate in NJAAP’s ABP-Approved MOC Part 4 Program. Participation is optional. The program is aimed at helping pediatricians increase use of age appropriate mental and behavioral health screening tools, anticipatory guidance, referrals and care coordination to support the early detection of mental/behavioral health issues, and improvement of mental/behavioral health care in the primary care setting.

Next MOC Part 4 Program Starting in Fall 2019! REGISTER NOW TO SECURE YOUR SPOT! 

Why Should I Participate in the MOC Program?

By participating in NJAAP’s Mental Health MOC Program, you will receive:

  • Training on mental/behavioral health screening
  • An AAP ADHD Toolkit, along with many other resources
  • Hands-on technical assistance for implementing screening and care coordination
  • Opportunities to network with colleagues, experts, and community organizations
  • 25 ABP Part 4 Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points upon program completion
What are the Requirements for Participating?

All participants in NJAAP’s Mental Health MOC Program are required to:

  • Designate a 3-person multidisciplinary practice quality improvement team
  • Attend 2 half-day In-Person Learning Sessions (opportunity to earn additional CME credits & MOC Part 2 points)
  • Submit baseline data and 4 follow up cycles - 20 patients per cycle
  • Submit progress reports on quality improvement goals
  • Participate in monthly webinars
  • Participate in one on-site office visit with NJAAP Quality Improvement team member
  • Complete pre and post surveys during the project

For more information, please watch our informational video.

Click Here to Register