What is behavioral health? Behavioral health refers to both mental health and/or substance use challenges, including depression, anxiety, alcoholism, attention deficit disorder, disordered eating, drug addiction, and more. Behavioral health can range from individual behaviors and symptoms to a diagnosable disorder. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that one in five children in the United States lives with a behavioral health challenge.
Parent/Caregiver Toolkit for Kids’ Behavioral Health
Explore the resources below to learn more about getting your child the support they need. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call 215-563-5848 or email behavioralhealth@childrenfirstpa.org
- Understanding the Alphabet Soup: Key terms for children’s behavioral health
- Use this guide if you are unfamiliar with behavioral health and want to learn more about what services and supports are available to your child.
- Flowchart for Medicaid
- If you would like to take the next step and get your child the behavioral health support that they need, this is a step-by-step guide for navigating Medicaid coverage for kids’ behavioral health.
- Medicaid plans are plans such as Keystone First, Health Partners, United.
- Flowchart for Commercial Insurance Plans
- If you would like to take the next step and get your child the behavioral health support they need, this is a step-by-step guide for navigating commercial insurance coverage for kids’ behavioral health.
- Commercial insurance plans are usually through your job, and include plans such as Independence Blue Cross, Cigna, or Aetna.
- Flyers you can share information with your friends, families, and loved ones. Feel free to print these flyers that will help them get connected on learning how to find Behavioral Health resources for children and teens.
- School Nurse and Counselor Manual
- Has a comprehensive section on Behavioral Health.