About Us - Strategic Behavioral Health Initiative

About Strategic Behavioral Health Initiative

Who We Are:

The American Academy of Pediatrics, CA Chapter 3 (AAP-CA3) launched a strategic behavioral health initiative in July 2023. Our goal for this collaborative effort is to assess current behavioral health resources and needs for children and youth and develop a roadmap to a comprehensive continuum of care that meets the needs of our children and youth throughout the region and incorporates evidence-based and best practice care models. In the first two years, we conducted an environmental scan including mapping the children/youth behavioral health system of care, identifying best practices across the system, and scanning existing and relevant policies. We conducted community-input sessions and set priorities based on needs and opportunities. Based on this environmental scan, the SBHI developed a road map and advocacy plan for policy and program implementation. This process was overseen by a Steering Committee comprised of subject matter experts and thought leaders. In May 2025, the SBHI transitioned under the auspices of the Policy & Innovation Center (PIC). PIC’s strengths in research, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic influence make it well-positioned to lead the next chapter of SBHI.

Community Support

We are funded by grants from the Price Philanthropies Foundation, Alliance Healthcare Foundation, The San Diego Foundation and The Conrad Prebys Foundation.

In the document library below, you can find additional background information including data and trends, other children’s behavioral health roadmaps, and policies currently in place.

Other Roadmaps and Reports

Policy Scan

Data and Trends

Kaiser Family Foundation: Recent Trends in Mental Health and Substance Use Concerns Among Adolescents – 2024

This brief uses the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS-Teen) data – which was collected for an 18-month period from 2021 to 2022 – to provide an up-to-date analysis of adolescent mental health, utilization of mental health care, and unmet needs and how they vary across demographics, including sex and sexual identity.

Behavioral Health Services for Children & Youth Systemwide Annual Report – FY 2022-23

The primary focus of this annual report is BHS-CY mental health services, with limited information also available on prevention, early intervention, and addiction treatment. The report is also working to understand the impact of the pandemic on youth and families in San Diego County.

Children’s Now: California Children’s Report Card – 2024

The California Children’s Report Card grades the State on its ability to support better outcomes for kids. Each grade is based on the State’s progression passing and implementing state-level policies and making investments in the supports and services needed for all kids to reach their full potential. The Pro-Kid Agenda provides recommendations to the state’s leaders on how to improve outcomes for kids in each section.

CDC: Youth Risk Behavior Survey – 2024

The YRBS Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013–2023 provides the most recent surveillance data, as well as 10-year trends and 2-year changes in health behaviors and experiences of high school students in the United States.

Department of Health Care Services and Department of Managed Health Care – Children Enrolled in Medi-Cal Face Challenges in Accessing Behavioral Health Care – 2023

The results of DHCS’ timely access monitoring of specialty mental health care and substance use treatment plans administered by counties similarly show that significant numbers of counties’ plans are not in compliance with DHCS’ standards of timely access.

Social Media and Youth Mental Health, The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory – 2023

More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media; however, the current body of evidence indicates that while social media may have benefits for some children and adolescents, there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.

ZERO TO THREE’s Think Babies initiative: The State of Babies Yearbook: 2023

The State of Babies Yearbook: 2023 is an analysis of the indicators that pinpoint five priorities where urgent federal and state policy is needed to advance equitable opportunities for babies and their families

Annie E Casey Foundation: State Trends in Child Wellbeing – 2022

Since 1990, the Casey Foundation has ranked states annually on overall child well-being using a selection of indicators. Called the KIDS COUNT® index, these indicators capture what children need most to thrive in four domains: (1) Economic Well-Being, (2) Education, (3) Health and (4) Family and Community. Each domain has four indicators, for a total of 16. These indicators represent the best available data to measure the status of child well-being at the state and national levels.

Molecular Psychiatry Article: Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide: large-scale meta-analysis of 192 epidemiological studies – 2021

To provide robust, global epidemiological estimates of age at onset for mental disorders, this report conducted a PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic review with meta-analysis of birth cohort/cross-sectional/cohort studies, representative of the general population, reporting age at onset for any ICD/DSM-mental disorders.

AAP-AACAP-CHA Declaration of a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health – 2021

Rates of childhood mental health concerns and suicide rose steadily between 2010 and 2020 and by 2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24. The pandemic has intensified this crisis: across the country we have witnessed dramatic increases in Emergency Department visits for all mental health emergencies including suspected suicide attempts

US Surgeon General Advisory: Protecting Youth Mental Health – 2021

This Advisory offers recommendations for supporting the mental health of children, adolescents, and young adults. The Advisory includes essential recommendations for the institutions that surround young people and shape their day-to-day lives—schools, community organizations, health care systems, technology companies, media, funders and foundations, employers, and government.

MHSOAC: Well and Thriving: Advancing Prevention and Early Intervention in Mental Health – 2020

California’s nearly $520 million investment in PEI programs is a significant resource for mental health prevention and early intervention. However, further efforts are needed for lasting change. The Commission’s report outlines strategies to enhance prevention and early intervention in and beyond the mental health system.

About Strategic Behavioral Health Initiative

Who We Are:

We are funded by grants from the Price Philanthropies Foundation, Alliance Healthcare Foundation, The San Diego Foundation and The Conrad Prebys Foundation.

In the document library below, you can find additional background information including data and trends, other children’s behavioral health roadmaps, and policies currently in place.

Data and Trends

Meet the Team

Kristin Garrett Montgomery, MPH

Pradeep Gidwani, MD

Lily Valmidiano, MPH, CHES

John Camitan

Moisés Barón, Ph.D. Consultant