Behavioral Health Integration Program

Our Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) team partners with practices to explore whether integration is the right fit, prepare teams to deliver high-quality integrated primary care, support implementation, and sustain integration over time. 

Specifically, we will help you: 

• Identify and develop a clinical model of integration 
• Develop and continually improve operational workflows
• Engage in financial planning to promote a sustainable model 
• Develop and monitor key evaluation metrics

Can You Help Us If We Are Already Integrated? 

Yes. We not only help practices who are seeking to integrate for the first time, but we also support practices that are currently integrated. Here are a few examples of ways we can help existing programs.  

Expanding BHI within a practice, group, or system 

• Effectively add providers to an already integrated practice 
• Scaling to new clinics within the group or system 

Supporting or adding new components to existing model 

• Measuring and monitoring important clinical and operational outcomes 
• Problem-solving low utilization or over-extended integrated BH clinicians 
• Refining existing workflows or clinical pathways 
• Providing education and support through a learning community 
• Developing new clinical workflows to target high need presenting concerns 
• Supporting additional screening within the practice 
• Improving measurement-based care with a registry and monthly consultation 

Existing practices are also welcome to join our statewide learning collaborative, use our online curriculum or participate in any of our training/workshops.

Online Curriculum

Our online curriculum is a learn at your own pace 7-module curriculum designed to provide the foundational knowledge about behavioral health integration in primary care for behavioral health clinicians (BHCs), primary care clinicians (PCCs), administrators and other team members. Each module takes about 20 – 30 minutes to complete and is available at no cost. 

In this curriculum you will learn:

1. How to make the case for integrating behavioral health clinicians into primary care 
2. Different models of integration 
3. How to shift your clinical mindset to be effective in an integrated primary care setting (separate modules for BHC and PCPs) 
4. Develop team-based care skills essential to BHI 
5. Understand key financial considerations to sustaining integrated care 
6. Develop effective operational workflows 
7. Identify and resolve common ethical dilemmas that present in BHI 

Behavioral Health Clinician (BHC) Training 

Most behavioral health clinicians are trained in traditional mental health models with longer, more frequent sessions. In primary care, care is delivered in a brief, focused and high-volume format to reach more patients and better support population health. 

This training builds on foundational knowledge to develop skills in assessment, intervention and consultation within the primary care setting. Participants apply learning through case examples and brief appointment simulations with structured feedback. 

Trainings are small group to support individualized learning and include continuing education credit and actionable feedback on clinical strengths and growth areas. Additional or extended training options are available to meet specific practice needs. 

There is a lot to learn about providing behavioral health services in the fast-paced primary care setting. The BHI Program can explore options to tailor the training to your needs, including extended, multiple day training to provide more depth and practice on assessment, intervention, and/or interdisciplinary, team-based skills.

Email BHIntegration@NationwideChildrens.org to inquire about scheduling a BHC Training.

Integrated Care Office Hours

We also host open door clinical consultation to maintain your integrated primary care skills post-training. You will be sent a meeting link for attendance after completing the training. If you would like to have access to our office hours, email BHIntegration@NationwideChildrens.org.

Collaborative Learning for Integrated Care (CLIC)

CLIC is a monthly interdisciplinary collaborative learning community centered on behavioral health integration (BHI) in pediatric primary care. The goal of the CLIC is to create a space that fosters community, innovation and problem-solving through shared learning to support professionals providing integrated care services to children and families within their communities.

We are inviting organizations implementing or preparing to implement integrated pediatric primary care across Ohio to participate in this regional collaborative, together with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Partners For Kids. Reach out to BHIntegration@NationwideChildrens.org for more information.

Social Learning Forum

Behavioral health integration (BHI) looks different in every practice. No one should have to figure it out alone. 

We’ve launched new Behavioral Health Learning Library message boards where you can share your experiences with BHI, ask questions and learn from colleagues across disciplines. Whether you have a success to celebrate, a challenge to work through or a question you’ve been sitting with, this is a space to connect and learn from one another.