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Empowering Primary Care Providers to Support Mental and Behavioral Health

Seattle Children’s Care Network (SCCN) Integrated Behavioral Health Program helps kids receive behavioral health services from specialists embedded in their primary care clinic.

Seattle Children’s has teamed up with primary care pediatricians in the Puget Sound region to implement a new approach to address the growing youth mental health crisis.

Seattle Children’s Care Network (SCCN) and Seattle Children’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine launched a Pediatric Integrated Behavioral Health Program in 2020 to provide children and their families with the mental and behavioral health support they need earlier and closer to home.

The innovative program aims to empower primary care teams to identify, manage and coordinate mental and behavioral health services within their community settings with the long-term goal of alleviating pressure on hospitals and specialty care practices.

Mental health care is one of the greatest unmet needs in pediatric health, said Dr. Sheryl Morelli, chief medical officer for SCCN. “The support we received from the Seattle Children’s Guild Association’s Funding Hope Award has been instrumental in establishing the foundational components of an integrated behavioral health program across our network, including universal behavioral health screenings and brief evidence-based interventions within primary care.”

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Creating Opportunities in Health Information Technology for the Next Generation of Pediatric Leaders

Melvin Smith (second from the left) works around the clock to develop IT’s workforce of the future. By day, he leads the hospital desktop team, and by night, he teaches Health IT classes at Seattle Colleges

When Information Technology (IT) supervisor Melvin Smith first joined Seattle Children’s as an administrative fellow in 2018, he never imagined where he’d be today. 

“I have always worked in environments where I was either the youngest or the only individual from my community group,” Smith explained.  

He also knows what it’s like to be ‘othered’ and understands the power of a great mentor. 

“I built the foundation of my career around not liking disparities,” he explained. “From my experiences with internships, fellowships and getting my first job, I always took the approach that I want to be the person I wish I had.” 

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