Name
Weaving in Behavioral Health Support at Alaska CARES: The Story of Behavioral Health Integration at a Child Advocacy Center in Alaska
Description

This presentation outlines the story of weaving in behavioral health integration within a Child Advocacy Center in Alaska in response to high volumes of child sexual abuse and neglect within Alaska Native/American Indian children. Alaska CARES, located in Anchorage, Alaska, was the first Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in the state to integrate a full-time Masters Level Clinician (Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC)) to provide responsive, targeted intervention for children, youth and families seen at the CAC for forensic interviews. Children and families have access to responsive behavioral health care during and after being seen for a forensic interview at Alaska CARES and are referred for additional services as needed. The integration of a full-time behavioral health role has been a multiorganizational partnership that wraps around children and families for the best possible long-term health outcomes.

Speakers
Kristen McKay, Clinical Supervisor, Southcentral Foundation,
Content Level
Novice
Tags
Collaborative Care Model of Integrated Care, Innovations, Primary Care Behavioral Health Model
Session Type
Concurrent
SIG or Committee
Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), Pediatrics (PEDs), Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH)
Objective 1
Describe the process of weaving behavioral health integration into an Alaska-based Child Advocacy Center (CAC) where forensic interviews occur for children who have experienced child abuse and neglect
Objective 2
Identify the roles and responsibilities of a behavioral health consultant (BHC) at the Child Advocacy Center
Objective 3
Describe the collaboration between multiple health care systems to effectively integrate a behavioral health consultant into the Child Advocacy Center
Content Reference 1

Bell, S., Deen, J. F., Fuentes, M., & Moore, K. (2021). Caring for American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics, 147(4), e2021050498. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-050498

Content Reference 2

Burns, J., Angelino, A. C., Lewis, K., Gotcsik, M. E., Bell, R. A., Bell, J., & Empey, A. (2021). Land Rights and Health Outcomes in American Indian/Alaska Native Children. Pediatrics, 148(5). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-041350

Content Reference 3

Letson, M. M., Davis, C., Sherfield, J., Beer, O. W. J., Phillips, R., & Wolf, K. G. (2020). Identifying compassion satisfaction, burnout, & traumatic stress in Children’s Advocacy Centers. Child Abuse & Neglect, 110(3), 104240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104240

Content Reference 4

Lippard, E. T. C., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2023). The Devastating Clinical Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect: Increased Disease Vulnerability and Poor Treatment Response in Mood Disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 180(8), 548–564. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.19010020

Content Reference 5

National Optional Standards of Accreditation for Children’s Advocacy Centers (NOSACAC). (2023). https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2023-Optional-Standards-Book.pdf