The Vermont Child Psychiatry Access Program: Statewide Partnership to Expand Primary Care Capacity for Youth Mental Health

The Vermont Child Psychiatry Access Program (VTCPAP), launched in 2022 to address gaps in youth mental health care access in Vermont, offers same-day consultation to primary care providers (PCPs). Over 16 months, the VTCPAP facilitated 597 patient-specific consultations, including in rural and underserved areas. With VTCPAP's services, PCPs reported being better able to treat patients' mental health as well as enhancement to their own work life. Plans to maximize limited resources and to address the full spectrum of youth mental health care needs include providing asynchronous messaging for consultation initiation and integrating an existing perinatal mental health consultation program.