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Objectives: The Texas Senate passed a bill during the 86th legislative session known as Senate Bill 11 to address accessibility to mental health services for the youth of Texas. The bill leverages the expertise and capacity of the 12 health-related institutions of higher education in Texas to address the urgent mental health challenges in Texas. One of the 5 initiatives ordered in the legislation was the establishment of a statewide telehealth system providing direct mental health services to schools now known as the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) Program. Methods: The origins, objectives, and operation of the TCHATT Program will be described. Data from program operations will be shared to demonstrate its impact. Cases will be shared to illustrate the operation of the program. Methods to specifically reach children of low socioeconomic backgrounds, minoritized racial groups, sexual- and gender-minority youths, immigrants, and others who traditionally experience healthcare inequities will be described. Results: The TCHATT Program has made mental health services available to over 2 million Texas school children. Among the services available are urgent evaluations, brief therapy, psychiatric services, case management, and connection to community resources. Dell Med TCHATT works with school staff members to identify and assess the behavioral health needs of students, prioritizing the needs and care of at-risk children and adolescents who lack access to mental healthcare services in their communities. COVID-19 increased youth mental health problems, and TCHATT addressed these needs by providing accessible care through telehealth. Conclusions: The TCHATT Program has successfully increased access to mental health care by reducing the barriers. By involving the school staff and providing virtual appointments facilitated by the school, students and families are better able to engage in mental health care.
Citation: Ripperger-Suhler J, Mani N, Patel P 54.4 Reaching At-Risk Youth by Telehealth in Texas: Experience From the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine Program Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 61S73
