Behavioral Health Initiative
The Behavioral Health Initiative is a collaborative partnership between Children’s National Hospital and the Pediatric Health Network that aims to develop a comprehensive strategy to address mental and behavioral health needs in our regional primary care practice network, recognizing there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We focus our efforts on two key areas that we believe will make a major impact on the mental and behavioral health of children and families in the Pediatric Health Network. These focus areas are 1) Training, Education, and Partnerships, and 2) Integrated Business Models and Care Management.
We also invite you to click the button below to access handouts on behavioral health conditions for patients and families. View “Clinical Support Tools for Providers” for more resources for providers.
Behavioral Health Initiative Webinars
Join the BHI for our free, quarterly behavioral health webinars led by child and adolescent psychiatry experts. The series offers intermediate-level insights into common pediatric behavioral health issues and their management in primary care. The sessions will be conducted virtually quarterly on Wednesdays, with recordings available online after each session.
Webinars are free and open to everyone, regardless of PHN membership. Register below for each webinar.
Upcoming Sessions
Resources for Providers
As part of the Behavioral Health Initiative, experts have created a comprehensive list of useful online mental and behavioral health tools that are available for primary care providers in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. See below for a collection of free resources covering a range of behavioral health topics.
Behavioral Health Resources: Start Here
These toolkits for pediatricians provide comprehensive and efficient collections of guidelines and materials for supporting child mental health in primary care practice.
State and Local Resources
Pediatric mental health resources in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Professional Development and Practice Toolkits
Online collections of mental health resources for mental health providers.
Anxiety
Resources for supporting youth with anxiety problems including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Separation Anxiety Disorder.
Autism and Intellectual Disability
Resources for supporting youth with autism and/or intellectual disability.
Early Childhood Mental Health
Early childhood mental health resources for children ages birth to five.
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Resources for youth with feeding and eating problems, including sensory food aversions, ARFID, anorexia, and bulimia.
Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Executive Functioning Problems
Rating scales, treatment tools, and other resources for supporting youth with executive functioning problems including ADHD.
Mood Dysregulation, Disruptive Behavior, and Aggression
Online resources for pediatricians supporting youth with severe externalizing behaviors.
School-Based Mental Health
Resources that support the social-emotional, psychological, behavioral, and physical health of students in school.
Suicidality, Self Harm, and Safety Planning
Resources for supporting youth with safety problems including suicidality and self-harm behaviors.
Trauma
Resources for supporting youth who have had traumatic experiences, including pain and medical trauma.
Past Presentations
All our didactic webinars are recorded, and the supplemental handouts and guidelines are available for your reference below. We hope you enjoy these materials and are able to join us in future virtual learning opportunities.
April 2025
April 9, 2025
Difficult Behaviors in Young Children
Presented by: Bhavin Dave, MD; Leandra Godoy, PhD
May 2022
May 12, 2022
Office Hours: Using ASQ and CSSRS Screening to Triage Care
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
May 2, 2022
Safety planning and Suicide Prevention in Pediatric Primary Care
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
November 2024
November 13, 2024
Managing Eating Disorders in the Primary Care Setting
Presented by: Elana Neshkes, M.D.; Sarah Hornack, Ph.D.
September 2024
September 11, 2024
PHN Behavioral Health Webinar – Managing Pediatric Anxiety in an Outpatient Setting 2.0
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, MD, and Elana Neshkes, MD
April 2024
April 10, 2024
Webinar: Managing Pediatric ADHD in the Outpatient Setting 2.0
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, M.D., and Elana Neshkes, M.D.
January 2024
January 10, 2024
Managing Pediatric Depression in the Outpatient Setting 2.0
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, M.D., and Elana Neshkes, M.D.
June 2023
Future of Pediatrics 2023: Behavioral Health Initiative Overview
Presented by: Olivia Soutullo, PhD, and Lee Beers, MD, FAAP
August 2022
August 8, 2022
Evaluation and Management of Anxiety Disorders in Pediatric Primary Care
Presented by: Laura Willing, MD
- Evaluation and Management of Anxiety Disorders in Pediatric Primary Care Presentation Slides (.pptx)
More Resources:
- Anxiety: SPACE treatment for anxiety, OCD, and related disorders
- Anxiety: Children’s National anxiety treatment options, including group therapy
- Anxiety: 2020 DC MAP / PHN ECHO Video Presentation
- Anxiety: Seattle Children’s Partnership Access Line Anxiety Care Guide
August 4, 2022
Office Hours: Pharmacology in ASD
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
July 2022
July 28, 2022
Office Hours: ASD Screening and Diagnostic Tools
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, M.D., and Anne Inge, M.D.
July 11, 2022
Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation and Management in Primary Care
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, MD
More Resources:
- Autism: Seattle Children’s Partnership Access Line Autism Spectrum Disorders Care Guide
- Autism: Resources for Providers – Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Autism: ADEPT: Autism Distance Education Parent Training – 10-Lesson interactive, self-paced, online learning module for parents
- Autism: TRIAD Families First Program – Practical tools for caregivers to support young children (ages 2-7) newly diagnosed with ASD
- Autism: STAT: Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children
- Autism: Project Impact – Coaching program for parents of young children with ASD
- Autism: Hanen Programs for Parents
- Autism: “Help is in Your Hands” Log-in for Courses
- Autism: “Help is in Your Hands” Resource for families with young kids on the autism spectrum
- Autism Speaks Tool Kit
June 2022
June 6, 2022
Diagnosis and Management of Depression in the Pediatrician’s Office
Presented by: Laura Willing, MD
May 2022
May 12, 2022
Office Hours: Using ASQ and CSSRS Screening to Triage Care
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
May 2, 2022
Safety planning and Suicide Prevention in Pediatric Primary Care
Presented by: Kelly Register-Brown, M.D.
