Mental Health
Expanding Illinois’ Statewide Mental Health Programs & Services Together
Your Voice Shapes Pediatric Mental Health Care in Illinois
In 2023, Illinois pediatric clinicians spoke, and we listened. Your insights directly led to enhanced training modules, new clinical support materials, expanded promotion of Illinois DocAssist, and stronger advocacy around pediatric mental health throughout our state.
Take the Needs Assessment Today
As pediatric mental health needs continue to evolve, we need your professional expertise to guide our work in 2026. The Pediatric Mental Healthcare Needs Assessment is your opportunity to shape the resources, education programs, and advocacy that will support your practice and your patients.
All Illinois pediatric healthcare clinicians are invited to participate. Whether you're in primary care, specialty practice, school health, or a rural setting, your 15-minute contribution will help ICAAP develop the clinical support materials, continuing education, and policy initiatives that strengthen your capacity to deliver excellent mental health care.
ICAAP is partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women's Health and Family Services (IDPH, OWHFS), Illinois Title V Maternal and Child Health Program (IL Title V), and Illinois DocAssist (IDA) to expand Illinois' statewide mental health programs and services.
Take the Needs Assessment Closes January 31, 2026
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Pediatrics Mental Health Community
Sign Up for Bi-Monthly Newsletters Designed to Build Capacity
As part of our mission to support pediatricians and all clinicians working with children in Illinois, we’ve developed a newsletter that we will send every two months to share key updates directly to your inbox.
Newsletter Archive: December 2025, October 2025, August 2025, June 2025, April 2025, Feb. 2025
Get Crucial Updates On:
- CE/CME Opportunities
- Mental Health Resources & Guidance
- Educational Webinars
- Upcoming Events
- Data & Trends in Illinois
- State & Partner Initiatives
2026
Pediatric Mental Health Conference
Building on Success: Join Us in Peoria
Following our successful inaugural conference in May 2025, where over 100 professionals dedicated to pediatric mental health gathered for a day of intensive learning, ICAAP and IDA are excited to announce our second annual Pediatric Mental Health Conference.
- When: May 7, 2026
- Where: Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center, Peoria, IL
- 6 hours of CME/CE (pending approval)
Why Attend?
Whether you're a pediatrician, family physician, nurse, social worker, or allied health professional providing pediatric mental health care, you'll gain practical, evidence-based strategies to maximize your capacity and confidence. Connect with pediatric mental health experts and colleagues from across Illinois. Leave with actionable clinical tools you can implement immediately.
What's Happening in Illinois
Efforts to Strengthen Children’s Mental Health Care in Illinois
In November 2022, the Administration of Governor JB Pritzker announced it is launching a state program designed to help pediatricians and other providers meet children’s mental health needs by strengthening mental health services in emergency departments and schools.
IL Blueprint for Transformation - A Vision for Improved Behavioral Healthcare for Illinois Children
The Transformation Initiative to analyzes systemic problems and, in collaboration with the six child-serving State agencies, develops creative, evidence-driven solutions.
Suicide Prevention Ambassadors
The AAP and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) are partnering to establish a community of Suicide Prevention Ambassadors across all AAP Chapters. Ambassadors will be trained in strategies described in the Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention and work together to provide leadership and subject matter expertise, engage community members, and support chapter activities related to youth suicide prevention.
Meet our ICAAP Ambassador:
- Nabil Abou Baker, MD, FAAP - University of Chicago
ICAAP work closely with Phil Martinez, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention IL Chapter.
Mental Health Resources for Illinois Clinicians
Connect with a Mental Health Peer Advisor
We have convened a group of clinicians to serve as mental health peer advisors, ready to support your needs and provide guidance. Our mental health peer advisors do not provide case consultation, rather, they are here to provide support to clinicians and practices working to integrate mental health care screening and delivery into the primary care setting.
Clinical Tools and Expert Guidance
ICAAP Medication Quick-Reference Tools
These short, digestible, primary-care-friendly guides outline medications and dosing for ADHD, anxiety, and depression. They include drug names and classes, age-specific dosing, formulation details, and clinical pearls.
ADHD Medication Chart for Preschool Children (Ages 3-5)
Additional Resources: IL DocAssist Dosing for Children Under 6
ADHD Medication Chart for Children Ages 6+
Additional Resources: Vanderbilt Assessment Scales | CHOP Alternative Treatment Algorithm | Northwell Health Dosage Equivalence Guide
AAP Clinical Guidance
Promoting Optimal Development: Screening for Mental Health, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems
New clinical report published in August 2025 providing guidance on screening children for mental health concerns beginning in the first year of life.
Health Supervision for Children and Youth With Mental and Behavioral Health Emergencies
AAP policy statement and technical report highlighting strategies to improve emergency care delivery for pediatric mental and behavioral health.
AAP Mental Health Initiatives
Comprehensive collection of practice tools, guidance, and resources for pediatric mental health care.
AAP Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)
Comprehensive collection of resources, tools, and strategies to improve systems and supports for children and youth with special health care needs and their families.
Resources to Share with Families
Outreach Materials for Your Patients and Their Families
Support your patients beyond the exam room with these resources. Whether you're helping families manage anxiety, understand behavioral strategies, or connect with community services, these materials are designed to extend your clinical guidance into the home.
ICAAP Anxiety Management Tools
ICAAP and subject matter experts developed a list of resources on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other tools clinicians can share with patients who have anxiety.
CBT and Relaxation Techniques
Help families understand CBT skills including deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and mindfulness.
Apps for Kids and Teens
Recommend digital tools for mindfulness, emotional regulation, CBT strategies, and mood tracking, organized by age group. Apps are shared for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Download in English | Download in Spanish
Books and Workbooks List
Provide families with curated titles for children, teens, and parents that reinforce CBT strategies and offer interactive approaches to managing worry, anger, and stress.
Grief Resources
Two flyers that provide step-by-step information on how clinicians can confidently help patients and their families, encouraging healthy healing after the loss of a child or sibling.
BEACON: Connect Families to Behavioral Health Services
When families need additional support beyond your practice, direct them to BEACON—Illinois' comprehensive resource for behavioral health services. BEACON helps families find services focused on their child's specific needs, discover community-based resources, and explore state-funded programs.
ICAAP's Partnership with Illinois DocAssist
ICAAP collaborates closely with IDA to expand access to pediatric mental health services across Illinois.
IDA is a free service available to all Illinois health care and school-based clinicians. Our psychiatric consultants can quickly assist you with addressing the mental health and substance use problems of children, adolescents (through age 21), and perinatal women. The program offers the following services:
The program offers the follow services
- Same Day Psychiatric Teleconsultation
- Treatment Referral Assistance
- Provider Resources