RESUMEN

Having a baby who is prenatally or postnatally diagnosed with a medical condition places considerable stress on the parents, infants, and their developing relationship. Infant mental health (IMH) services offer an opportunity to address the challenges and support the parent-infant relationship. The present study outlined a continuum of care IMH program embedded within various medical settings of a large metropolitan children's hospital. Applications of IMH principles within the fetal care center, neonatal intensive care unit, high risk infant follow-up clinic, and the patient's home are described. Descriptive data about families served across settings and a case study are provided in order to illustrate the implementation of this unique IMH intervention model.

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RESUMEN

Parents and infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are exposed to considerable stress, and infant-family mental health (IFMH) services foster emotional well-being in the context of the parent-infant relationship. This mixed-methods study examined the role of an IFMH program introduced in a level 4 NICU. The study included (1) retrospective medical record review of NICU patients who were referred to the IFMH program and (2) qualitative interviews with NICU nurse managers, neonatologists, and medical social workers to explore their understanding of the IFMH program, explore the referral pathways and factors that supported family engagement, and identify specific recommendations for program improvement. Of the 311 infant-parent dyads referred to the IFMH program, 62% had at least one session and Spanish-speaking families were more likely to engage. Of those families receiving services, about one-third had brief intervention, one-third had 4 to 10 sessions, and one-third had long-term services, including in-home after-discharge services. Qualitative interviews with health providers identified unique qualities of the IFMH program and why families were and were not referred to the program. Recommendations centered on adding a full-time IFMH mental health provider to the NICU and increasing communication and integration between the IFMH program and the medical team.

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RESUMEN

Mental health disparities continue to be a concern for racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Further, approximately 20% of children in the United States have a mental health disorder with less than half of these youth receiving mental health treatment (Polanczyk, Salum, Sugaya, Caye, & Rohde, 2015; Stancin & Perrin, 2014; U.S. Surgeon General, 1999). Integrated primary care has been identified as an ideal place where youth and families can receive mental health services. There is evidence supporting that when psychologists are in primary care, behavioral health outcomes improve and the costs per patient are reduced (Chiles, Lambert, & Hatch, 1999). The objective of this paper is to describe the steps taken to colocate The Incredible Years Parenting Program (IY; Webster-Stratton & Reid, 2010) an evidence-based parenting group, in a pediatric primary care setting at a major metropolitan children's hospital. The parenting group was delivered as a prevention and early intervention program for an underserved population, specifically focused on parents of children ages 3-6 years, to reduce health disparities and improve access to needed behavioral health care. A case study illustrates the potential benefits to mental health and physical health outcomes through colocation, and ultimately integration, of behavioral health services in primary care. Policy implications for sustainability of group parenting interventions in primary care, the impact on decreasing health disparities, and future directions along this line of research are discussed.