The Transformation of an Existing Integrated Behavioral Health Primary Care Program for Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

Behavioral and mental health (BMH) concerns are commonly identified within the pediatric primary care setting. In recent years the increasing acuity of BMH needs identified within the pediatric primary care setting has led to numerous efforts to develop effective and sustainable prevention-focused integrated behavioral health (IBH) programs; however, these programs typically emphasize prevention and early intervention for young children. Although integrated models of care targeting specific BMH concerns exist, these models typically do not account for the unique needs of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and do not include BMH prevention. This article describes the core components that were identified and subsequently utilized to guide the adaptation of an existing prevention-focused IBH primary care program for AYAs. Adaptation of the existing IBH program resulted in an expansion of prevention-focused services across the BMH continuum of care. Specifically, primary, secondary, and tertiary-level prevention services were identified as clinically necessary to meet the vast array of BMH needs among AYAs within the primary care setting.