TEAM UP Program Expands Access to Mental Health Services for Children
TEAM UP welcomes six new pediatric and family medicine practices in newest cohort
BOSTON – The Transforming and Expanding Access to Mental Health Care Universally in Pediatrics (TEAM UP) Scaling and Sustainability Center announced the newest cohort of pediatric and family practices selected to implement its proven TEAM UP ModelsTM . Based at Boston Medical Center (BMC), the program works to ensure children and youth receive timely, high-quality mental healthcare to address the growing pediatric mental health crisis.
Following a highly competitive application process, six practices from across Massachusetts were chosen for their strong commitment to building sustainable, team-based behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care. Over the next two-and-a-half years, the TEAM UP Center will provide a total of $1.75 million in direct funding to support these practices, expanding the reach of its innovative, evidence-informed, and trauma-responsive model.
The cohort includes:BMC Primary Care Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Hawthorn Medical Associates, LLC
Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center
HealthFirst Family Care Center
Holyoke Health Center
Pediatric Associates of New Bedford
Together, these practices provide care for over 40,000 children.
“Children and youth across the country have increasingly struggled with mental health challenges. TEAM UP’s integrated approach, which was co-developed with partner practices, breaks down barriers to care, reaching children directly in their communities,” said Anita Morris, Executive Director of the TEAM UP Center. “This cohort of practices joins a growing community across Massachusetts and beyond, to make a meaningful difference for children, youth, and their families.”
With the support of TEAM UP, pediatric patients can access behavioral health services in their pediatric medical home, often on the same day a concern is identified. Over a 12-month period, children receiving mental health services in TEAM UP health centers have shown significant improvements in mental health symptoms, quality of life, and school functioning, including fewer missed school days.
The selected practices will also join the TEAM UP Learning Community, a collaborative network offering in-depth clinical training, customized technical assistance, and data-driven support to help participating sites successfully implement and sustain integrated behavioral health.
“We are excited to partner with dedicated practices to make these services available directly within pediatric primary care settings,” said Megan Bair-Merritt, MD, MSCE, Chief Scientific Officer at BMC, and past director of TEAM UP’s research team. “By integrating behavioral healthcare into pediatric clinics , TEAM UP removes barriers to care for patients in historically marginalized communities.
Since its inception in 2015, TEAM UP has supported more than 15 practices and trained more than 655 professionals in implementing the TEAM UP model and building capacity for integrated behavioral health care. Anchor funding for the TEAM UP Center was provided by the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation and The Klarman Family Foundation.
Read the full Press Release at BMC News >>