Psychological and Mental Health Services

LPs will need to coordinate with licensed medical providers and are encouraged to convene all relevant providers in their community.

Cost estimates vary based on local market rates.

5415 - Health Care Access and Support

Psychological and Mental Health Services

FY 24-25:

• Number of children receiving therapeutic interventions 
• Number of parents receiving therapeutic interventions† 

FY 24-25:

• Increase in developmental screenings or assessments, referrals, and child use of services OR Increase in parent use of services

FY 24-25:

• Child Screenings, Referrals, and Use of Services Calculation: Child - Other Service Use OR Parent Use of Services Calculation
• Child Therapy Measure

Evidence Informed- Industry Standard

Two of the most relevant publications on psychological & mental health services include a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine¹ and a literature review commissioned by the United States Preventive services Task Force (USPSTF).² These publications summarize strategies to support healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development in children to set the foundation for well-being in adulthood. Recommended strategies include screening for caregiver risks, screening women of reproductive age and perinatal individuals for depression and providing treatment/referrals, implementing programs that promote positive parenting practices and attachment, providing substance use counseling and treatment for parents, and parent education programs. School-based programs for preschool- and school-aged children can promote social and emotional skills, mindfulness practices, and resilience. Primary health care settings can further promote mental, emotional, and behavioral development for children by mitigating risks for unhealthy fetal development (such as prenatal tobacco or alcohol exposure), providing parenting education, hiring multidisciplinary care teams, and providing preventive, therapeutic care for children with serious chronic disorders. For effective implementation, it is recommended that a systematic approach is most impactful with actively engaged community stakeholders, well-trained professionals, strong community coalitions, and ongoing learning and quality improvement through monitoring and evaluation of data. In the literature review, twenty randomized control trials (RCTs) evaluated counseling interventions and found that CBT- and IPT-based interventions had the largest effect on participants with postpartum depression. These programs had varying dosages  (average of 8 weeks in length and including 8 sessions) and topics, ranging from role transitions and interpersonal conflicts around childbirth to creating a healthy social, physical, and psychological environment for the pregnant people and their infants. These RCTs were primarily limited to women at higher risk for perinatal depression, including women with a history of depression, reporting current depressive symptoms, low socioeconomic status, and a lack of support. Other publications evaluated approaches that lacked statistically significant outcomes for mothers and children, such as health system interventions, physical activity interventions, birth-experience postpartum debriefing, supportive interventions without formal counseling, and others.

The North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors, North Carolina Psychology Board, and North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board provide clear guidelines and resources about licensure for counselors, psychologists, and clinical social workers. Additionally, North Carolina state legislation includes statutes regarding mental health occupations, including N.C.G.S. § 90-24, N.C.G.S. § 90-18G, and N.C.G.S. § 90B. These statutes provide clear practice guidelines which all services provided through a Smart Start Local Partnership must adhere to, ensuring the safety and well-being of children and families across NC.