Fall 2018 - Spring 2019
Peggy LaFleur, Executive Director; Denise Gonzalez, Director of Behavioral Health; Maria Allemana, Social Worker; Kristen and Mark Coe, founders, Be The Boat
In 2017 and 2018, the IWS Children’s Clinic piloted an innovative approach to behavioral health through its dental program. Traditionally, behavioral health is assessed by a child’s pediatrician; I know that when our children were asked by their pediatrician about their friends, extracurricular activities, homework patterns, it never occurred to me that their pediatrician was completing a “behavioral health survey” but that’s exactly what their doctor was doing. Childhood engagement is the foundation of good health and it reveals much about an individual!
The Children’s Clinic provides nearly 10,500 medical and dental visits to local, under-served pediatric populations. In October, 2018, with funding from Be The Boat, the Mullooly Carey Foundation and other providers, the Clinic implemented a unique program whereby a social worker could engage directly with dental patients during their clinic visit. As shared by Denise Gonzalez, Director of IWS Behavioral Health, “During a medical well child visit, patients are screened for mental health and developmental issues. This innovative program extends these critical behavioral health screenings to children on-site for preventative dental visits. Patients found to have behavioral health concerns are given follow-up support ranging from short-term (crisis) interventions, referrals to other agencies, case management engagement and/or aid with basic living needs.”
During the October, 2018 - June 30, 2019 time period, 843 patients were screened by the dental practice social worker with 629 case management supports offered, each of which represents an opportunity to help a patient and their family pivot from a point of vulnerability to one of stability. Be the Boat is honored to partner with The Children’s Clinic on this opportunity to alter the trajectory of children through immediate, targeted and discreet interventions.
