State and Local Resources
Pediatric mental health local resources in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.: Local Toolkits, Guides, and Reports
DC HealthCheck Training and Resource Center: Local and national mental health resources and toolkits for pediatric providers in the District of Columbia.
DC Collaborative for Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care: Child & Adolescent Mental Health Resource Guide: Created for pediatric primary care providers in the Washington, DC, area, this guide aims to provide a comprehensive listing of local community behavioral health resources for children and adolescents.
DC Collaborative for Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care: ASD Toolkit for Pediatric Primary Care Providers in DC: This toolkit for primary care providers in Washington, DC, focuses specifically on supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families.
Children’s National Child Health Advocacy Institute Community Mental Health Publications: An organization that works to improve access to and utilization of high-quality mental healthcare for all children and their families in Washington, D.C.
DCAC Autism Collaborative Resources: Handouts for DC families on “What to do if you suspect your child has autism” and “what to do while you wait for a medical diagnosis of autism.” Available In English, Spanish, and Amharic.
Washington, D.C.: Mental Health Access and Nonprofit Organizations
DBH Access Helpline: This 24-hour, seven-day-a-week telephone line is staffed by behavioral health professionals who can refer a caller to immediate help or ongoing care.
Referral Guidelines Page for Children’s National Hospital: Referral guidelines by department at Children’s National.
Community Resources in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia: State and local resource lists compiled by the Department of Family Services at Children’s National Hospital. In English and Spanish.
DC Mental Health Access in Pediatrics (DC-MAP): A district-wide initiative that helps health care providers support children and adolescents with behavioral health needs.
Advocates for Justice and Education: Advocates for Justice and Education seeks to empower families, youth, and the community to be effective advocates to ensure that children and youth, particularly those who have special needs, receive access to appropriate education and health services.
Children’s Law Center: Nonprofit providing individual assistance, pro bono partnerships, and systemic advocacy to families in DC.
Catholic Charities DC: ChAMPS: An emergency service that works in close partnership with hospitals and police to provide help for children living in Washington, DC, facing a behavioral or mental health crisis.
DC DBH School Behavioral Health Program: This program provides prevention, early intervention, and clinical services to youth and their families in DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools
DC Courts: Information on Mental Health and Mental Habilitation: Information for families on obtaining mental healthcare, including initiating the commitment process, in DC.
Maryland
Community Resources in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia: State and local resource lists compiled by the Department of Family Services at Children’s National Hospital. In English and Spanish.
Referral Guidelines Page for Children’s National Hospital: Referral guidelines by department at Children’s National.
Maryland Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care (BHIPP): Supports the efforts of primary care and emergency medicine professionals to assess and manage the mental health needs of their patients from infancy through the transition to young-adulthood.
Children’s Mental Health Matters!: Handouts for families about crisis services in Maryland, including contact information for local crisis centers by county. Includes handouts on diagnoses and other topics, including seeking help and early childhood mental health. Available in English and Spanish.
ParentsPlace of Maryland: Staffed primarily by parents who have faced these challenges, this organization provides parent support and training for attaining education and health care services for children with disabilities. Resources available in English and Spanish.
Mental Health Association of Maryland list of BHAs: A printable list of Behavioral Health Authorities by county in Maryland. Each region has a Behavioral Health Authority that assists in finding and accessing treatment and recovery for mental health and substance use disorders.
Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities Directory: A directory by county of special education facilities approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.
National Alliance on Mental Illness: What to do in a Psychiatric Crisis in Maryland: Information on the emergency petition and involuntary psychiatric admissions processes in Maryland.
Virginia
Community Resources in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia: State and local resource lists compiled by the Department of Family Services at Children’s National Hospital. In English and Spanish.
Referral Guidelines Page for Children’s National Hospital: Referral guidelines by department at Children’s National.
Virginia Mental Health Access Program Guide for Promoting Child and Adolescent Behavioral and Mental Health in Primary Care: A statewide initiative that helps health care providers take better care of children and adolescents with mental health conditions through provider education and increasing access to child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and care navigators.
Virginia Community Services Board Directory: The public agency that plans, organizes and provides services for people of all ages who have mental illness, substance use disorders and/or developmental disabilities.
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center: Seeks to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life, with a special focus on children with disabilities. The website includes handouts for families on topics including special education, early childhood education, transition to adulthood. Includes a digital portfolio for parents of children with disabilities to organize personal, educational, medical, and legal information. Resources available in English and Spanish.
Formed Families Forward: A non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families of children and youth with disabilities and other special needs. Website includes a Northern Virginia Family Resource Directory, information on support groups, and workbook on transition planning for Virginia families.
Virginia REACH Program: The REACH program is the statewide crisis system of care that is designed to meet the crisis support needs of individuals who have a developmental disability and are experiencing crisis events which put them at risk for homelessness, incarceration, hospitalization, and/or danger to self or others. The website includes a list of regional REACH hotlines that are staffed 24/7.
If in Crisis resources from NAMI Virginia: Directory of mental health and substance abuse hotlines for residents of Virginia.
Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board Involuntary Hospitalization Fact Sheets: Information on the involuntary psychiatric hospitalization process in Virginia.
