Children and teens have better behavioral health outcomes when mental health providers team with pediatricians finds a meta-analysis by psychologists at the University of California, Los Angeles. The researchers examined 31 studies of 13, 000 children and adolescents that compared outcomes from those who were treated by integrated-care teams with those who received traditional primary care. The researchers found that for children and teens who received integrated behavioral care, the probability that they would have better behavioral health outcomes(such as those related to mental health, substance use and risky behaviors) than if they were in traditional primary care was 66 percent. Further, when psychologists or social workers were embedded in a pediatrician’s office and collaborated with the physician on patients’ evaluation, treatment and follow-up, the probability of better outcomes rose to 73 percent.

It is important to build a team of qualified professionals that parents can trust that meet the needs of their child in order to change their child’s future. It is recommended that this team meet monthly to review progress, discuss pitfalls, and possible changes in plan in order to find solutions. It is always better to be proactive than reactive.

On another note, the Susie Bean Gives team would like to thank everyone that supported us, attended the fundraiser and made generous donations. We could not help the 219 families that we currently pay for their children’s therapies without your support and love. We love helping these families and look forward to a long future of helping more Texas families.

Thank you,
Susie Bean Gives Team