Official Title: Building Better Behavior (B3): Primary Healthcare-based Behavioral Interventions for Preschool Children
Research Lead: Marsha Gerdes, PhD
Supported By: Pew Charitable Trusts
Dates: April 2007-March 2010
Background
Behavioral problems that develop when a child is young can have detrimental cognitive and social effects on the child’s success in school and family life. Moreover, the training offered to healthcare providers to help identify children with behavioral problems is often insufficient to enable effective diagnosis and intervention referral. Primary care practices need more interventions to address parenting issues and behavioral and mental health concerns in settings where families are comfortable.
Aims
- Improve healthcare providers’ ability to identify children with mild to severe behavioral problems.
- Identify early behavioral problems that will negatively affect a child’s school and family life.
- Provide mental health and behavioral health services free of charge to families of young children in settings where they are comfortable.
- Help families of children with more severe behavioral problems obtain ongoing community-based mental health referrals.
Methods
Study Design: Three-year intervention study
Population: Approximately 3,120 children each year
Progress
During the first year, the B3 program was established at 3535 Market Street. There have been 214 families referred; 64% of these participated in at least one session with a B3 staff member. Individual family coaching was the most frequently used service.
