Name
Tiny Patients, Vast Opportunities: Reimagining CoCM for Early Childhood Mental Health
Description

Early childhood represents a critical window for behavioral health intervention. This session explores how the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) can be adapted to meet the developmental, relational, and systemic needs of children ages 0-5. Presenters will outline foundational early childhood mental health principles and demonstrate how CoCM’s structure can be leveraged to fill service gaps in pediatric primary care. Attendees will leave with practical guidance for clinical adaptation, systems alignment, and policy sustainability.

Speakers
Jill Donelan, PsyD
Cody Hostutler, PhD
Lisa Powell, PhD
Anthony Sossong, MD
Katie Steele, PhD
Amie Bettencourt, PhD
Co-Authors
Clare McNutt, PA-C, MSHS; MaryAnn Woodruff,MD; MaryBeth Callie, MD; Rachel Tenenbaum, PhD; Jian Joyner, LSW
Content Level
All Audience
Tags
Collaborative Care Model of Integrated Care, Pediatrics, Policy and Systems Change
Session Type
Concurrent
Objective 1
Describe at least three developmental principles that require adaptation of the Collaborative Care Model for children ages 0-5.
Objective 2
Identify key clinical and operational modifications necessary to implement early childhood CoCM in pediatric primary care.
Objective 3
Develop actionable advocacy and billing strategies to navigate policy and reimbursement barriers unique to the 0-5 population.
Content Reference 1

Margolis, K. L., Buchholz, M., Charlot-Swilley, D., Serrano, V., Herbst, R., Meiselman, E., & Talmi, A. (2022). Early childhood integrated behavioral health: A promoter of equity in pediatric care. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 10(3), 263–272. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpp0000454

Content Reference 2

Weitzman, C., Guevara, J., Curtin, M., & Macias, M. (2025). Promoting optimal development: Screening for mental health, emotional, and behavioral problems: Clinical report. Pediatrics, 156(3), e2025073172. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2025-073172

Content Reference 3

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; Board on Children, Youth, and Families; Committee on the Early Relational Health Determinants of Future Health and Well-Being, Backes, E. P., & Willis, D. (Eds.). (2025). Early Relational Health: Building Foundations for Child, Family, and Community Well-Being. National Academies Press (US). https://doi.org/10.17226/29234

Content Reference 4

Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy. (2022). Care for families improves outcomes: Policies for dyadic services.

Content Reference 5

ZERO TO THREE. (2024). HealthySteps and Collaborative Care Model Billing Structures: Utilizing Collaborative Care for Infants, Toddlers, and their Caregivers.