Welcome to a new format to assist Vermont primary care clinicians and the general community to access new and quality information to help improve child mental health assessment and treatment. We know the problem all too well: emotional and behavioral problems are extremely common, affecting at least 1 in 5 children. Vermont like every other state has a critical shortage of child psychiatrists, and primary care clinicians are often needed to deliver this important care. Unfortunately, most pediatricians and family medicine physicians have had little formal training in mental health, and consequently are uncomfortable addressing emotional behavioral problems in their patients.
David Rettew, MD
This blog developed by the Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families and supported by the Vermont Child Improvement Program (VCHIP) is designed to offer practical and easily assessable information related to child psychiatry. The regularly updated information will offer the following.
- Regular postings from VCCYF staff about the assessment and treatment of common child emotional behavioral challenges
- Links to important local and national resources
- An ability to send clinical questions to VCCYF faculty that will be responded to in a timely manner
The central model that will be used is the Vermont Family Based Approach – a strategy developed by Dr Jim Hudziak that expands the focus of assessment and treatment beyond the individual symptoms of the child and towards the entire family environment.
Tags: child mental health, child psychiatry, mental health, pediatric psychiatry, psychiatry, wellness