Applications Now Open
TEAM UP Center Funding Opportunity:
Request for Applications to Implement the TEAM UP ModelTM
The TEAM UP—Transforming and Expanding Access to Mental Health Care Universally in Pediatrics—Scaling and Sustainability Center (TEAM UP Center) at Boston Medical Center (BMC) is pleased to offer primary care practices serving children and adolescents the opportunity to work with the TEAM UP Center in advancing integrated pediatric behavioral health care.
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Funding Opportunity: At a Glance
| Sponsoring Organization: TEAM UP Scaling and Sustainability Center, Boston Medical Center |
| Funding Opportunity Title: Request for Applications to Implement the TEAM UP ModelTM |
| Purpose: To expand access to integrated behavioral health care for children and adolescents in Massachusetts by supporting primary care practices to implement the TEAM UP model of pediatric integrated behavioral health. |
| Eligible Applicants: Massachusetts-based pediatric primary care and family medicine practices serving children and adolescents. |
| Funding Period: 30 months (April 1, 2026 – September 30, 2028) |
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Key Dates:
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| Funding Range: Scaled awards of approximately $100,000–$400,000 over 30 months, based on patient volume, need, and infrastructure requirements. Funding will be distributed through milestone-based payments. |
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Support Provided:
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Why partner with TEAM UP to advance pediatric integrated behavioral health care?
Access to behavioral health care is an ongoing challenge in Massachusetts and beyond, with nearly 1 in 5 children experiencing a mental health issue; however, only roughly 20% of children with mental health issues receive treatment from a mental health professional. The average delay from the onset of symptoms to treatment is 11 years.
1 in 5
children experience a mental health issue
11
years average delay from the onset of symptoms to treatment
~20%
of children with mental health issues receive treatment from a mental health professional
Building on a decade of work, the TEAM UP Center promotes positive child health and well-being through the consistent delivery of innovative evidence-based integrated care. Our team-based integrated behavioral health care model ensures that behavioral health risk factors and concerns in children and adolescents—from birth through age 18—are identified early and accurately, with safe and effective treatments provided in the most accessible settings.
TEAM UP, which began in 2015 and is now the standard of care in seven pediatric practices serving over 40,000 children, is expanding to reach 126,000 children in 29 clinics across the Commonwealth. Following the successful launch of our Request for Applications to Implement the TEAM UP Model earlier this year, the TEAM UP Center is pleased to open the next round of applications for this initiative. We welcome primary care practices serving children and adolescents to apply to participate in the continued expansion of the TEAM UP model across Massachusetts.
About the TEAM UP Model
Developed collaboratively with pediatric primary care practices, the TEAM UP model is an innovative approach to integrating behavioral health into pediatric primary care. The model utilizes a fully integrated, multidisciplinary care team, including behavioral health clinicians (BHCs), community health workers (CHWs), and primary care providers (PCPs), to promote healthy development and ensure early identification of emerging behavioral health issues and rapid access to care.
The TEAM UP Learning Community
Practices that implement the model join the TEAM UP Learning Community as part of a cohort, where they receive in-depth clinical training, practice transformation support, and customized, data-driven technical assistance alongside other participating practices. This collaborative network provides ongoing guidance and tailored resources to support the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of integrated behavioral health (IBH) services within each practice.
Clinical Training & Workforce Development
In-depth, ongoing clinical training designed to expand core knowledge of pediatric behavioral health with a focus on role-specific core competencies and specialized skills for BHCs, CHWs, and PCPs in the integrated primary care setting.
Practice Transformation & Technical Assistance
Practice transformation support to implement and sustain integrated behavioral health care through a data-driven quality improvement framework and customized technical assistance.
Since its inception, the TEAM UP Center has trained over 400 professionals and engaged more than 15 practices to implement the TEAM UP model or build capacity for IBH care. With the launch of this funding opportunity, new practices have the opportunity to join this growing community, collaborating with other practices to implement and sustain a proven model that has demonstrated positive outcomes for children and families. Multiple studies show that TEAM UP practices identify and address behavioral health needs early and effectively within the pediatric medical home. Children are screened for behavioral health concerns at more than 90 percent of well child visits, and are often connected to same-day, on-site care when a concern is identified. This integrated approach improves access, enhances mental health outcomes, and supports better quality of life and school attendance for children and adolescents. TEAM UP has also reduced provider burnout, increased professional fulfillment, and strengthened engagement in primary care without increasing the total cost of care.
Investment in Evaluation, Research, and Advocacy
The TEAM UP Center has a robust evaluation team and is committed to using data to drive practice transformation, support advocacy efforts, and advance the IBH field. As part of model implementation, participating practices engage in a mixed-methods evaluation, with metrics gathered from electronic health records (EHR) and staff surveys, alongside a separate analysis of claims data from the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database. This approach allows us to measure implementation progress and impact at the practice level.
Read our peer-reviewed literature →
To ensure participating practices are equipped to use data effectively for implementation and evaluation, the TEAM UP Center will support the development of data infrastructure and reporting capabilities within practices. One established option is to leverage our partnership with Relevant Healthcare a data and analytics organization with extensive experience working with community-based providers to facilitate EHR data extraction, reporting, and visualization through dashboards and related tools. Relevant Healthcare’s capabilities can help reduce reporting burden and strengthen the use of data to monitor progress and inform quality improvement.
Read Appendix: About Relevant Healthcare →
Recognizing that data systems and analytic capacity differ across practices, the TEAM UP Center will collaborate with each participating site to identify the most appropriate and feasible approach to meeting implementation and evaluation requirements. While Relevant Healthcare represents one option, alternative solutions may be pursued where needed to ensure that all participating practices are able to meaningfully engage in data-driven implementation and evaluation activities.
Advocacy is a key element to ensuring the long-term viability of IBH care, specifically for children and adolescents, by supporting policies and payment structures that align with practice investments. The TEAM UP Center collaborates with Health Care For All to advocate for policies that improve reimbursement for key services within pediatric integrated care models.
About the Funding Opportunity
We invite Massachusetts-based primary care practices serving children and adolescents to apply to join our next cohort to implement the TEAM UP model. The TEAM UP Center will provide practices with financial, technical, and operational support over a 30-month period to successfully integrate behavioral health care into their primary care services for children and adolescents. Our support includes role-specific clinical training for BHCs, CHWs, and PCPs as well as interdisciplinary team-based training to strengthen collaboration and care delivery.
Benefits of Participation
Participating practices benefit from comprehensive financial, technical, and operational support. This section outlines the key benefits provided to practices.
Financial and Infrastructure Support
- Scaled funding ranging from $100,000 to $400,000 based on the size and demonstrated need of the patient population, as well as the staffing and infrastructure support needs of the practice. Funding will be disbursed through six milestone-based payments over 30 months to support practice investments, such as staffing, protected time to engage in training and implementation efforts, and evaluation related activities.
- Participation in TEAM UP includes access to implementation support, the Learning Community, and data resources that represent a meaningful investment in practice transformation. The TEAM UP Center will work with each practice to establish an approach for data collection to support continuous improvement and evaluation. Depending on the solution selected by the site, this may include data tools that enable performance monitoring and inform integrated behavioral health delivery. All data shared with the TEAM UP Center will comply with applicable privacy and security requirements.
Non-Financial Benefits
For patients and families:
- Prompt access to needed mental and behavioral health services in a climate where resources are scarce
- More comprehensive and responsive care from a multidisciplinary team
- Improved experience navigating healthcare systems
- Care from providers who are highly trained
For staff/direct care providers:
- Focused training for all core members of the multidisciplinary care team, as well as responsive and tailored technical assistance
- Ongoing professional development over the course of 30 months, followed by access to free training opportunities as TEAM UP “alumni”
- Improved professional vitality and fulfillment, and reduced risk of burnout
- Improved care coordination and collaboration amongst staff teams
- Connection to peers and colleagues in the field across the state
- Opportunities to contribute to field building and advocacy
For organizations:
- Alignment with the current MassHealth 1115 Demonstration Waiver, supporting team-based care, improved coordination, and quality metrics
- Department-wide training opportunities that improve organizational culture and quality care
- Guidance in revenue optimization and sustainability measures
- Increased staff satisfaction and stability
- Certification as a TEAM UP practice upon successful completion of the initiative
Expectations and Commitments
The TEAM UP Center is committed to supporting practices in delivering high-quality, integrated, and culturally responsive behavioral health care to promote equitable access to services for all children and adolescents. Through this partnership, we advance health equity with the aim of sustaining gains beyond the funding period. Over a 30-month period, participating practices will assemble a team to lead implementation within the practice, as outlined in the following Practice Expectations and Practice Commitments.
Read more in Appendix: TEAM UP Model Implementation Activities →
Practice Expectations
Participating practices will:
- Deliver evidence-informed IBH services through a fully staffed care team of BHCs, CHWs, and PCPs directly integrated within the primary care clinic(s)
- Ensure all patients have access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed, family centered care in alignment with the TEAM UP model
- Develop and implement clear processes for team collaboration and patient referrals through standardized workflows that align with TEAM UP model components
- Collaborate with the TEAM UP Center to share accurate and timely data to support implementation tracking, quality improvement, and evaluation
- Work toward TEAM UP model certification through active engagement and continuous improvement
Practice Commitments
Participating practices commit to the following requirements to successfully implement the TEAM UP model.
For more detail on time commitment by team role, read Appendix: Learning Community and Practice Staffing Requirements. →
- Form a core project team composed of key staff outlined below who will lead practice transformation efforts and ensure that all BHCs, CHWs, and PCPs are also able to participate in those efforts.
- Designate a member of the executive leadership to serve as an Executive Sponsor to champion the initiative, participate in key activities, and facilitate decision-making and allocation of resources to support implementation of the model towards TEAM UP certification within the practice.
- Appoint Clinical Champions with expertise and leadership authority in both primary care and behavioral health to lead implementation and ensure sustainability.
- Assign administrative leads including but not limited to: a Project Manager, IT and Data Representatives, and Billing Representative to oversee operational components, including project deliverables, data set-up and sharing, billing, and workflow optimization.
- Engage clinical and administrative staff and providers in all TEAM UP Learning Community training, activities, and annual community events, including a limited number of in-person events and trainings.
- Ensure EHR readiness by adding simple standardized documentation templates and collaborating with the TEAM UP Center to share data as part of the evaluation.
- Commit to proactively engage patients and families in the transformation process.
All research activities conducted by the TEAM UP Center are overseen by the joint Boston Medical Center/Boston University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Research activities associated with this initiative will be covered under that IRB, and all relevant materials will be shared for review and approval prior to initiation.
Recruitment Process
Our recruitment process is designed to be transparent and supportive, helping us get to know your practice, your goals, and how we can best partner with you. In an effort to minimize the burden of applying, we utilize a two-step approach that includes an application and direct follow up with each practice.
Step 1: Submit an Application
The application helps us understand your practice’s capacity, existing service model, and IBH goals. This is an opportunity for us to learn more about your needs and how the TEAM UP Center can support you.
Step 2: Review and Follow-Up
Upon receiving your application, we will follow up to gain a deeper understanding of your practice through a discussion, and potentially a site visit, to explore ideal and meaningful opportunities for engagement.
| Informational Webinar | December 3, 2025, 12:30-1:30pm |
| Application Deadline | December 12, 2025, 5:00pm |
| Follow-up and Site Visits | January 5-January 19, 2026 |
| Disposition to Applicants | January 30, 2026 |
| Initiative Onboarding | February – March 2026 |
| Initiative Start | April 1, 2026 |
Informational Webinar
We will be hosting an informational webinar to provide an overview of this funding opportunity and answer questions from interested applicants. A recording will be made available for those unable to attend live. Please register for the informational webinar using the following:
Questions about the application or the initiative may be submitted to Recruitment.TEAMUPCenter@bmc.org during the open recruitment period. The TEAM UP Center will update the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document regularly to include common questions and responses from the informational webinar and from inquiries received by email.
Application Overview
The application is designed to help us assess key aspects related to each practice’s capacity to implement the TEAM UP model. Below are the domains that will be assessed:
- Organizational Overview: Core services, affiliations, organizational structure, and, if applicable, current tier level designation within the MassHealth primary care sub-capitation program
- Patient Population: Payor mix, characteristics of communities served
- Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Health Needs and Services: Prevalence of behavioral health conditions and availability of existing behavioral health services
- Clinical Model: Current screening practices, diagnostic processes, and access to mental and behavioral health services
- Operational Infrastructure: Existing staffing, EHR systems, and billing practices
- Organizational Priorities: Alignment with the TEAM UP Center’s mission and commitment to full implementation of the model
- Practice Leadership Plan: Key leadership roles, including executive, clinical, IT, and billing
- Supporting Documentation: Leadership bios
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
To support a successful partnership, practices must demonstrate capacity, readiness for change, and organizational commitment. Interested practices should meet the following foundational criteria for participation:
- Pediatric primary care or family medicine practice
- Located in Massachusetts
- Demonstrated intent to staff a minimum of 1.0 FTE BHC and 1.0 FTE CHW per 3,000 pediatric patients. Staffing expectations scale proportionally with patient volume.
- Commitment to participate in all implementation and evaluation activities
Based on our experience, major transitions such as leadership changes, EHR replacement, or organizational restructuring can affect a practice’s ability to fully participate in implementation activities, and we encourage practices to consider and share any such plans when applying.
Selection Criteria
The TEAM UP Center will lead the review and selection process for the next cohort of participating practices based on the following criteria. These criteria will guide the selection process to ensure participating practices are positioned to successfully implement and sustain the TEAM UP model as part of the next cohort.
- Demonstrated Need: The volume and characteristics of the patient population expected to benefit from the intervention. Examples may include but are not limited to a high proportion of publicly insured or uninsured patients, and/or significant gaps in access to mental and behavioral health care within the community.
- Organizational Commitment: Clear institutional commitment to implementing and sustaining the TEAM UP model, including alignment with the practice’s overall strategic goals.
- Leadership Strength: Ability of the organization’s leadership and key personnel to champion the initiative within the practice.
- Infrastructure and Data Capacity: Strength of existing infrastructure to support pediatric behavioral health integration, quality improvement, and evaluation activities, including the capacity to support data sharing.
- Capacity to Contribute to Learning and Innovation: Experience providing data for evaluation and implementation, potential to demonstrate clinical improvement within the initiative period, and commitment to critical thinking, collaboration, and transparent data sharing within the TEAM UP Learning Community.
Get in Touch with the TEAM UP Center
Staff within the TEAM UP Center are available to support practices throughout the application process. Please email Recruitment.TEAMUPCenter@bmc.org with any questions. We will update the Recruitment FAQ regularly to share responses.
We recognize that practices are at different stages in achieving their IBH goals. Even if your practice is not quite ready for full model implementation, you can still make significant strides in enhancing IBH access for your patients by partnering with the TEAM UP Center. We offer a variety of pathways to support your progress. Please complete this interest form to tell us more about your practice and to help us understand how we can best support your goals.