Mental Health
Expanding Illinois’ Statewide Mental Health Programs and Services Together
ICAAP is collaborating 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’ existing statewide mental health programs and services.
Join the ICAAP
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: 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
Increasing the Volume of Consultation Services in Illinois
This expansion primarily focuses on increasing the volume of consultation services provided across the State, providing a multitude of mental health education and training opportunities to pediatricians and other primary health care professionals, and developing a stronger network of mental health resources and referrals accessible to providers serving pediatric patients and their families.
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 new 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. The new program will focus on increasing the volume of consultation services provided across the state, providing a multitude of mental health education and training opportunities to physicians and health care professionals, and strengthening the network of mental health resources and referrals accessible to providers and their patients. It will also explore the feasibility of direct provider-patient telehealth service programs.
IL Blueprint for Transformation - A Vision for Improved Behavioral Healthcare for Illinois Children
The Transformation Initiative builds upon the substantial progress made by Illinois agencies to ensure that every young person experiencing mental or behavioral health problems can access needed services. By identifying and addressing current barriers to delivering efficient and effective care, the Transformation Initiative hopes to improve the State’s ability to offer families a set of streamlined, accessible, and responsive solutions.
The Governor empowered the Transformation Initiative to analyze systemic problems and, in collaboration with the six child-serving State agencies, to develop creative, evidence-driven solutions in order to achieve five goals:
- Adjust capacity—so that there are enough of the services we need
- Streamline processes—so that services can be easily accessed
- Intervene earlier—so that acute crises can be prevented
- Increase accountability—so that there is transparency in service delivery
- Develop agility—so that systems can be responsive to the changing needs of the youth population
New Quality Improvement Project
Pediatric Anxiety
Earn Part 4 MOC & CME While Enhancing Preventative Measures
Build your capacity for pediatric mental and behavioral health screening, diagnosis, and treatment with our QI project, focusing on pediatric anxiety. Join ICAAP, subject matter experts, and professional peers during monthly live webinars to explore new ways to provide quality behavioral and mental health care within the medical home setting.
Join ICAAP, subject matter experts, and professional peers to
- Standardize anxiety screening at well visits
- Improve Diagnostic Accuracy
- Ensure effective follow-up treatment
- Use Quality Improvement methods to implement and monitor changes
Credit Eligibility
Participants must attend at least 3 out of 5 scheduled webinars live to be eligible for MOC Part 4 credit. MOC Part 4 credit and CME credit will be available, pending approval.
Session Details
All sessions are scheduled on Thursdays, from 8 am to 9 am CT. Dates include:
May 1, 2025
May 29, 2025
June 26, 2025
July 24, 2025
September 4, 2025
Additional coaching sessions will also be available.
The Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics is accredited by the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics designates each live webinar for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Medical Assistants can submit Certificates of Attendance to their accrediting board to claim credit for participation in the live webinars.
Grief Resources!
We are please to introduce this new set of grief flyers! Two flyers empower pediatric health professionals by providing step-by-step information on how they can confidently help patients and their families which encourages healthy healing after the loss of a child or sibling. Simply download the zip file to print or share with families or health professionals!
Mental Health
Resources for
Clinicians
AAP Clinical Report: Suicide and Suicide Risk in Adolescents
Explore the Academy’s new clinical report, as published in the January 2024 edition of Pediatrics to enhance your capacity to recognize risk factors associated with suicidality in at-risk adolescents. The clinical report highlights strategies to improve screening techniques and leverage new interventions for patients with suicidal ideation and associated behaviors.
AAP Policy Statement & Technical Report
Health Supervision for Children and Youth With Mental and Behavioral Health Emergencies
The American Academy of Pediatrics seeks to curb prolonged emergency department stays and boarding, which negatively affect patient care and emergency operations, in a new policy statement and technical report published in the September 2023 issue of Pediatrics. The goal of the literature is to highlight strategies, resources, and recommendations for improving emergency care delivery for pediatric mental and behavioral health. Explore more using the links below.
AAP Mental Health Initiatives
Explore up-to-date data, resources, and action kits developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Help to promote healthy mental development and address concerns of your patients with these practice tools and resources. Topics include readying the practice, practice workflow, brief interventions and symptom-based care, and effective referrals
Additional Mental Health Resources
Review these resources for more information about mental health concerns, trauma informed care and supporting healthy mental development.
ICAAP Mental Health Resources
Suicide Prevention
Explore resources and information for guidance on how to decrease pediatric suicide and effectively work with families and communities on this rising issue.
Suicide Prevention Ambassadors
The AAP and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) are partnering to establish a community of Suicide Prevention Ambassadors across the United States and Puerto Rico. Chapter 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
Families
Mental Health Support for Your Family
If you have questions about the mental health and wellbeing of your infant, child, or teenage, do not hesitate to reach out to your regular pediatrician for more guidance. They are always happy to lend an ear and help you find the right pathway for your family! You can also learn more about infant and child mental health with these helpful resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
These resources share helpful tips and skills to:
- Manage anxiety
- Manage depression or sadness
- Manage disruptive or aggressive behavior
- Manage inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity
Learn more about mental health topics like:
- Emotional wellness
- Mental health concerns
- Promoting social emotional health
- Promoting resilience
BEACON
Your Direct Connection to Behavioral Health Resources for Your Child
It’s common for young people to struggle with behavioral and/or mental health challenges. Please know you are not alone, and neither is your child. BEACON is here to help. Get information about behavioral health services focused on your child’s needs, learn about community-based resources available near you, and explore state-funded programs.