Child Psychiatry Access Programs (CPAPs) serve as a vital force multiplier in addressing the pediatric mental health crisis by strategically building the capacity of frontline providers, including pediatricians, family physicians, and school-based health professionals, to deliver evidence-based mental health care directly within their existing practices. These programs operate through a consultation model (often using telehealth infrastructure and tools) that provides primary care clinicians with rapid access to child psychiatry expertise, offering real-time guidance on diagnosis, treatment planning, and medication management, while also facilitating hand-offs to specialty care when needed. By equipping frontline providers with knowledge, confidence, and ongoing support to manage common mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD, CPAPs expand the mental health workforce without requiring families to navigate lengthy specialty waitlists or travel long distances to see a psychiatrist.
