Getting Started

PMHCA connects the dots between EDs, primary care providers, and mental health professionals to create a more responsive pediatric care system. Instead of working in silos, care teams can share expertise, coordinate referrals, and ensure that children receive the appropriate care at the right time.

This onboarding guide gives nonclinical awardees a clear introduction to PMHCA. It explains the pediatric mental health crisis, outlines PMHCA's role, and highlights how programs expand support to providers, families, and EDs.

Clarifying key terms is essential for effective collaboration in managing pediatric mental health crises. A shared understanding of language is crucial for teamwork and ensures alignment to deliver more coordinated care. This glossary defines important terms and offers context for how PMHCA programs relate to and support each concept, fostering clearer communication among providers, partners, and stakeholders involved in pediatric emergency mental health care.

Pediatric mental health concerns are on the rise, and EDs are feeling the strain. This snapshot highlights the urgent trends that make PMHCA’s work more critical than ever.

Pediatric and behavioral mental health care is a team effort. This section outlines how different stakeholders contribute to early intervention, crisis response, and continuity of care, with PMHCA teams providing support throughout.

View the Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Ecosystem

This visual illustrates the process for accessing mental health care through the PMHCA program, showing how children and families navigate through the system seamlessly. It maps the journey from initial concerns to emergency care, post-discharge planning, and follow-up. By depicting this pathway, the workflow highlights how coordinated actions contribute to better outcomes for youth and their families in mental health care.