Integrated Behavioral Health
Developing and Researching Advanced Models of Integrated Primary Care (DREAM IPC) is a biennial national conference devoted to innovative practices and research in the field of pediatric integrated primary care. Our practice was honored to receive the DREAM Team Award at the 2025 DREAM IPC Conference in Wilmington, DE. The DREAM Team Award is designed to recognize an interdisciplinary team that highlights best practices and innovation in primary care. At a conference largely attended by professionals from academic children’s hospitals across the country, we were humbled to receive this distinction. Our 2025 DREAM Team Award Submission.
The VMAP Recognition Badge marks our practice’s commitment to improving pediatric mental health. The Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) is a statewide initiative that expands access to mental, behavioral, and emotional health care by providing education, consultation, and care navigation for medical providers serving infants, children, adolescents, young adults, and pregnant or postpartum patients.
The Pediatric Center is pleased to have been a part of VMAP from its launch in 2018 with Dr. Walter Chun and Dr. Nadia Islam serving on its original steering committee and later serving as faculty for multiple VMAP ECHO programs. A majority of our providers have completed one or more of VMAP’s intensive educational programs.
What is integrated behavioral health?
Integrated behavioral health (IBH) is an approach to delivering mental health care that makes it easier for primary care providers to include screening, brief treatment, and referrals into their practice. It can take different forms, but IBH always involves collaboration between primary care providers and mental health providers.
What is a consult?
- Consults take place after an initial appointment with your medical provider about mental health or behavioral health concerns.
- Consults are a meeting with a psychologist who can help identify what difficulties a child is having, what services they need, and what caregivers can do to help.
What does your behavioral health team do?
- Our behavioral health team meets with patients who are established in our practice, up to date on their well child care, and referred by a medical provider within the practice.