Improving mental health services for rural children through teamwork.

Improving access to mental health services for rural youth: Leveraging multidisciplinary teams to enhance implementation of a screening and referral protocol in rural Child Advocacy Centers

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11059199

This study is looking at how teams at Child Advocacy Centers can better help kids in rural areas who might be facing tough situations by improving how they find and connect them to mental health services.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-11059199 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing access to mental health services for children in rural areas who are at risk for maltreatment. It investigates how multidisciplinary teams at Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) can effectively implement screening and referral protocols to identify and address mental health needs. By using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, the study aims to understand team dynamics and develop strategies that improve the implementation of evidence-based practices in these settings. The research will also include a pilot trial to test the effectiveness of these strategies in real-world scenarios.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years living in rural areas who may be experiencing mental health challenges or are at risk of maltreatment.

Not a fit: Patients who do not reside in rural areas or are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve mental health outcomes for rural children by ensuring they receive timely and appropriate care.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that multidisciplinary approaches in similar settings can enhance the implementation of mental health services, indicating a promising avenue for this study.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.