HRSA GPE: Interprofessional Collaboration and Training to Improve Health Outcomes
Project Description:
The impact of untreated mental health disorders during childhood is well documented, and is associated with lasting negative physical health and psychosocial outcomes. Currently, there is a significant local, regional, and national shortage of integrated
behavioral and mental health services within the health care system. The impact of this shortage is expected to increase as psychologists and other behavioral health providers face the need to meet the transformative challenges presented by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Meeting the Medically Underserved Community eligibility funding preference, this project aims to address these healthcare systems needs through enhancement of its APA accredited Psychology Internship. The project includes three interacting goals to promote interprofessional training, increase the number of current and future psychologists providing interprofessional care, and enhance faculty collaboration across divisions and programs. The current academic preparation for interns reflects a shortage of learning activities focused on
interprofessional models of care. Thus a primary focus of this project is to provide didactic and experiential training activities and an evaluation plan that will allow interns to effectively apply interprofessional skills within their practice. Interns rotate through primary and specialty care clinics where professionals from multiple disciplines work together to maximize health care outcomes. The project emphasizes a public health/prevention perspective, and interns participate in a group public health project exploring disparities in access to behavioral health services. The project also includes a novel mentorship component to promote the capacity of a newly developing training program to achieve APPIC membership, and expand the number of nationally available internship slots. Finally, the project enhances and expands interdisciplinary facultys practice of interprofessional models of care, to ensure the impact of the project is sustained. The project provides opportunities for faculty to mentor interprofessional staff and trainees while exposing multiple disciplines to new models for care. By meeting the stated goals, the program aims to build capacity for service and future training activities that will best address the complex behavioral health needs of underserved children.
Keyword(s):
interprofessional, interdisciplinary, mental health, underserved
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services
Area of Emphasis
Health-Related Activities, Other - Cultural Diversity
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees)
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Urban, Geographic Area - Other, Other
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
