Center for Promotion of Child Development Through Primary Care

On January 3, 2001, the Surgeon General released the National Action Agenda for Children's Mental Health, warning of a crisis in the identification and treatment of children's mental health problems. Nearly 21 percent of U.S. children aged nine to 17 have diagnosable mental health disorders, and ten percent suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause significant impairment. Fewer than 20 percent of these children receive any mental health treatment, and most of these receive services only in school. Moreover, children living in poverty are at increased risk for mental health disorders.

Failure to treat childhood mental illness comes at a great cost to society. Children with undiagnosed and untreated mental health problems are at increased risk for dropping out of school, using drugs and alcohol and ending up in the criminal justice system.

In response to the growing crisis in children's mental health care, two Johns Hopkins' faculty pediatricians developed a computerized behavioral assessment system designed to assist health care providers in diagnosing mental health problems, and provide information and resource referrals to families. With a two-year, $341,630 grant from The Abell Foundation, the Center for Promotion of Child Development Through Primary Care will pilot the computer system, known as the Child Health and Development Interactive System (CHADIS), in two pediatric clinics in Baltimore City. The system will enable pediatricians to identify developmental and behavioral problems in preschool and school-aged children during routine pediatric visits. Parents will answer a computerized questionnaire before meeting with the pediatrician, prompting the computer to provide immediate information to the pediatrician regarding the child's mental health status.

In addition to assisting the pediatrician in identifying any developmental, behavioral or emotional problems the child may have, as well as the child's strengths, CHADIS will provide parents with information about mental health resources available in the community.