North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services receives $445K Special Projects of Regional and National Significance grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration

Pediatric mental health care access - the purpose of this project is to enhance and expand the current pmcha-funded North Carolina psychiatry access line (nc-pal) and deploy an innovative approach to improving the connection to behavioral health care for children and youth across the state. This approach will involve linking nc-pal to three newly launched nc rural health hubs that were created as part of the federal rural health transformation program (rhtp). For the project period, the nc-pal team and the rural health hubs, in collaboration with stakeholders across North Carolina, will address four key objectives: (1) expand use of nc-pal teleconsultation services by providers with a particular focus on rural areas and communities with shortages of health professionals; (2) bolster training of pediatric and primary care providers on child and youth behavioral health with an emphasis on screening, diagnosis, and treatment; (3) increase access to nc-pal and related services and resources designed to address the behavioral health needs of children and youth; and (4) promote greater access to behavioral health services through provider engagement with nc-pal for teleconsultation and care coordination support with an emphasis on youth in rural regions and areas with shortages of health professionals.