About the Children's Health Initiative

The Children's Health Initiative (CHI) brings together clinicians and researchers who are dedicated to research and training regarding ways to improve quality of care for children with mental health needs. It is led by Dr. Katherine E. Grimes, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Previous Activities

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Demonstration Project
• Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), Performance Measurement
• Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Institute for Community Health: IC3 Integrated Comprehensive Care for Children, Evaluation
• Washington Circle Group, Child Mental Health Quality Measurement
• Office of Minority Health, DHHS, Health Disparities Initiative

Recent Activities

MHSPY Evaluation

The Mental Health Services Program for Youth (MHSPY) intervention combines mental health, pediatric and substance abuse services to maintain Medicaid youth with serious emotional disturbance (SED) in their homes and communities.

The MHSPY study monitors results in four discrete outcome domains for children with serious emotional disturbance who are at-risk of out-of-home placement: (1) functional status, (2) utilization, (3) cost, and (4) satisfaction. (See the MHSPY Model)

The study employs a longitudinal, multi-wave process using standardized measures of clinical functioning, service utilization, cost and satisfaction for children ages 3 through 19. Multiple standardized measures are administered to assess the overall level of functioning of the target population and identify the presence of change in mental health status at intake and every six months while the participant is enrolled in the program. These measures include the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS), Child Global Assessment Scale (CGAS), Child Patient Assessment Tool (PAT), ChildBehavior Checklist (CBCL), Youth Self Report (YSR), Teacher Report Form (TRF), Family Centered Behavior Scale (FCBS), as well as a Family, Youth and Agency Satisfaction Surveys. Service utilization data is also maintained on all medical services, including mental health and substance abuse, pharmacy, emergency room use, surgery, medication, lab for all enrolled MHSPY youth.

IC3

Consultation on evaluation and measurement strategies for the Integrated Comprehensive Care for Children (IC3), to support MHSPY communities, youth and families as key stakeholders to engage in a planning process for the integration of physical and behavioral health for children, adolescents and their families.

NCQA

Participation on the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Behavioral Health Measurement Advisory Panel

CHCS

Consultation to the Center for Health Care Strategies, to support participation in the Child Welfare Quality Improvement Collaborative on behalf of MHSPY.

THE MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY FOR CANADA

National Advisory Committee, Evergreen Framework: The Child & Youth Mental Health Framework for Canada

Anticipated Activities for 2009-2010

• SAMHSA's Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program - Building Better Futures: Growing Community Connections
• Founding member of Massachusetts Consortium for Excellence in Care - focus on system of care training and implementation