PMHCA Technical Assistance Toolkit

Mental Health

The PMHCA Technical Assistance (TA) Toolkit is a dynamic resource designed to help Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) programs enhance collaboration between emergency departments, pediatricians, and mental health providers.

Divided into eight sections, it provides practical guidance, workflows, and quality improvement (QI) strategies to improve responses for children in mental and behavioral health crises. Programs can use the toolkit step by step or adapt it to their specific needs, ultimately helping to create stronger pathways for pediatric mental health care.

Introduction to PMHCA and the TA Toolkit 2.0
Getting Started
Understanding PMHCA roles and toolkit resources
.
Coordinating Care and Building Responsive ED Systems
Care Coordination
 Building responsive emergency department systems
.
Clinical Protocols and Best Practices for Pediatric Mental Health
Clinical Protocols
Evidence-based pediatric mental health guidance.
.
Comprehensive Guidelines for Pediatric Mental Health Care
Care Guidelines
 Pathways from screening to disposition
.
Essential Resources for ED Staff in Pediatric Mental Health
Screening Tools for EDs
ED screening, triage, and referral resources
.
Key Tools for Pediatricians in Mental Health Management
Mental Health Tools for Pediatricians
 Supporting early identification and management
.
Strengthening Collaboration Between EDs and Pediatricians
ED-Pediatrician Collaboration
Coordination between EDs and pediatricians
.
Sustaining the Work for Long-Term Impact and Success
Sustaining the Work
Strategies for long-term impact and growth
.

The Pediatric Mental Health Care Access - EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center is provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award (U4LMC47054-01-06 ). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. government. For more information, visit HRSA.gov.