Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project: MCPAP

Help with Screening Tools: MCPAP Announces New Service for Primary Care Providers

Beginning January 28, 2008, primary care providers enrolled in the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) may contact their MCPAP teams with a special request for help on the implementation and use of MassHealth approved standardized behavioral health screening.  After the contact, primary care providers can expect a response within a week from a MCPAP consultant who has specialized knowledge and experience in using these tools within primary care practices.  Our consultants are available to meet the needs of primary care providers.  This may range from telephone consultation up to, and including, an onsite practice visit to discuss implementation with the practice staff.

For concerns about managing positive screens, including appropriate diagnosis, follow-up and availability of behavioral health related resources for referral, regular MCPAP teams will assist PCP's with all clinical questions that might arise from performing a screen.  As with any clinical call, MCPAP would expect its usual response time of about 30 minutes.

For additional information about the child behavioral health screening mandate, visit the EOHHS Child Behavioral Initiative web page at

www.mass.gov/masshealth/childbehavioralhealth

New Program for Acute Detoxification and Stabilization for Adolescents in Central Massachusetts

Community Healthlink has announced a new 20 bed program for adolescents ( males and females) 13-17 years old.  The new program, Motivating Youth Recovery (MYR) is an intensive 24 hour service for those who are in need of substance abuse treatment and further stabilization.  Patients may or may not need medical detoxification.

To make a referral, contact the patient's insurer or contact MYR at 508-860-1244.

Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project Has Enrolled about 96% of the State of Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project ( MCPAP) provides Primary care clinicians with timely access to child psychiatry consultation.

As of June 2008, 96% of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is enrolled with MCPAP.  If your practice is enrolled with MCPAP, you may call your regional MCPAP hub to receive a timely telephone consultation for patient specific and non-patient specific questions about behavioral health.

Click below to check our listings of MCPAP enrolled practices along with the telephone numbers of your specific MCPAP hub:

Download qryallpractices_no_other6-10-08.xls

 

MCPAP is supported by the Department of Mental Health and is free to all primary care clinicians who treat children.  If you would like additional information about MCPAP, or if you are not yet enrolled, please contact Martha Page, MCPAP Project Manager at 617-350-1923 or Martha.Page@valueoptions.com.

How's Your Child's Mental Health Brochure

The brochure entitled "How's Your Child's Mental Health" explains to parents how their children's PCCs can help with mental health issues.

To view the brochure, please click the link below:

Download Brochure.pdf

Any MCPAP enrolled PCC may order brochures by doing the following:

1. Go to www.masspartnership.com
2. Select PCCs
3. Select "Support Materials"
4. Select "Order Materials Online"
5. Look for Medical and Behavioral Integration
6. Select CMH- 8/06 "How's Your Child's Mental Health"

Please note that the brochure is available in English and Spanish.

MCPAP Information

The Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project, or "MCPAP", is an innovative program designed to improve access to care for children with mental health needs across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The following download provides MCPAP program information :

Download mcpap_information_sheet.doc

MGH Spearheads Web Resource for Mental Disorders in Children

In the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the diagnosis of mental health disorders in children. The reasons are many — pediatricians are identifying childhood disorders earlier, parents with access to the Internet and a wealth of information that didn't exist a generation ago — are cuing into symptoms sooner and studies indicate the rate of incidence is increasing, be it for genetic, environmental or lifestyle-related reasons. Mental health conditions in children and adolescents can be disruptive and troubling t o these children and their families as well as the schools they attend. Unfortunately, a mental health disorder often pits families and schools against each other, even as both are struggling to find ways to support these children.

This spring, a group of MGH clinicians joined forces with educators and parents to launch www.schoolpsychiatry.org, a new website targeted to educators, clinicians and parents of children with mental health diagnoses. The project is a joint effort of two programs in the MGH Department of Psychiatry — the School Psychiatry program, led by Jeff Bostic, MD, EdD, and the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Institute (MADI) Resource Center. The site provides information, tools and resources about the full range of childhood mental health conditions with the goal of bringing educators, parents and clinicians together through a common, reliable source.

Clinical Program Showcase: Family Stabilization Teams (FST)

Many of our families and children seeking psychiatric services have needs that require a more intensive clinical intervention than traditional outpatient care is designed to provide. Family Stabilization Team (FST) services are available for children and families with urgent behavioral health needs which can not be met with outpatient therapy. FST services are especially designed for children and adolescents who are at risk for psychiatric hospitalization if problems persist or worsen. FST is made up of teams of clinicians and case managers who provide outreach services to the home at least twice a week. These trained professionals initiate services within days of a referral due to the urgent nature of the clients’ needs and continue the intervention for as long as medically necessary. Referrals to FST can be initiated by any healthcare provider. FST services are provided by numerous clinical agencies throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The following discussion of the Brightside FST program is provided by it’s director Maria Zygmont, to illustrate the clinical model of this level of care. Brightside FST is one of many excellent FST programs available in the Commonwealth.