Parent and young child meeting with a behavioral health care provider

Florida has over 400,000 children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and developmental issues, but only about half can access services.

Integrated behavioral health care is the Florida Department of Healthโ€™s Title V Programโ€™s approach to addressing access to quality behavioral health services, especially for children and youth with special health care needs.ย It is critical that children can access behavioral health care because:

Research shows that early screening and treatment of behavioral health concerns can improve a childโ€™s outcomes. Unfortunately, we are experiencing a shortage of child and adolescent mental health providers.ย As a result, many families seek help from their primary care provider.

By implementing an integrative behavioral health care approach, medical providers, behavioral health providers and community organizations can work together to better meet childrenโ€™s behavioral health needs.

The Title V program provides education and technical assistance to those who are interested in learning more about engaging in integrative behavioral health care.


Florida Pediatric Behavioral Health Collaborative

The Florida Department of Healthโ€™s Title V program has collaborated with partners to develop a statewide behavioral health network, the Florida Pediatric Behavioral Health Collaborative.

The collaborative increases access to pediatric behavioral health services by building the capacity of primary care pediatric providers through technical assistance, skills-building training, and tele-consultations. The collaborative is the organizing body for regional behavioral health hubs. Each regional hub has implemented an evidenced-based model of integrative behavioral health that best meets the communityโ€™s needs.

Behavioral Health Hubs work with local primary care pediatric providers to build their capacity in mental health diagnoses, treatment, and referrals. This work includes a needs assessment process, tailored skills building training, technical assistance, evidenced-based treatment, and telehealth consultations. Each hub establishes a referral network of local behavioral health providers to address the range of treatment needs a child or youth may have.

Service Delivery Models

Integrated Behavioral Health Care Service delivery models

Primary care providers screen patients for behavioral health needs and work with professionals outside of their office to provide coordinated referrals and care.

Behavioral health and primary care professionalโ€™s offices are located in the same building or complex to reduce barriers to providing coordinated care.

Primary care providers and behavioral health professionals offer services as part of the same office work๏ฌ‚ow.

Collaborative Partners
Behavioral Health Hub Resources
General Resources

The Florida Department of Healthโ€™sย Childrenโ€™s Medical Servicesย and the University of Central Florida College of Medicineโ€™sย HealthARCHย have partnered to engage health system organizations with one-on-one technical assistance to assist eligible pediatric and family medicine NCQA-recognized patient centered medical homes achieve an additional level of recognition,ย Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration (BHI). This NCQA distinction program provides eligible health systems with personalized assistance fromย HealthARCHย to navigate the NCQA Distinction process.