Linking Primary Care to Community-Based Mental Health Resources via Family Navigation and Phone-Based Care Coordination

Leandra Godoy; Renee Williams; Lindsay Druskin; Hailey Fleece; Sujatha Bergen; Gail Avent; Adelaide Robb; Matthew G Biel; Lawrence S Wissow; Lee Savio Beers; Melissa Long

doi:10.1007/s10880-023-09987-9

Linking Primary Care to Community-Based Mental Health Resources via Family Navigation and Phone-Based Care Coordination

J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2024 Jan 24. doi: 10.1007/s10880-023-09987-9. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Leandra Godoy^{1

2

3}, Renee Williams⁴, Lindsay Druskin⁵, Hailey Fleece⁶, Sujatha Bergen⁷, Gail Avent⁸, Adelaide Robb^{4

9}, Matthew G Biel¹⁰, Lawrence S Wissow¹¹, Lee Savio Beers^{4

9}, Melissa Long^{4

9}

Affiliations

¹ Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA. lgodoy@childrensnational.org.
² George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA. lgodoy@childrensnational.org.
³ Child Health Advocacy Institute, Children's National Hospital, 1 Inventa Place, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA. lgodoy@childrensnational.org.
⁴ Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
⁵ West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
⁶ University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
⁷ Bergen Analysis, LLC, Washington, DC, USA.
⁸ Total Family Care Coalition, Washington, DC, USA.
⁹ George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
¹⁰ Georgetown University Medical Center/MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
¹¹ University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

PMID: 38265697
DOI: 10.1007/s10880-023-09987-9

Abstract

Family navigation (FN) and phone-based care coordination may improve linkages from primary care to community-based mental health referrals, but research on their differential impact is limited. This mixed-methods study compared FN and phone-based care coordination in connecting families to mental health services from primary care. Families of children (56.3% male, mean age = 10.4 years, 85.4% Black) were sequentially assigned to either receive FN through a family-run organization or phone-based coordination via the child psychiatry access program (CPAP). Caregiver-reported children's mental health improved in both groups and both groups were satisfied with services. More families in the CPAP group had appointments made or completed (87%) than families in the FN group (71%) though the difference was not statistically significant. Future research with a larger sample that matches family needs and preferences (e.g., level and type of support) with navigation services would be beneficial.

Keywords: Child psychiatry access programs; Family navigation; Mental health referrals; Primary care.