Mental Health Awareness and Access Program

In Hawai'i, mental health problems are particularly prevalent among Native Hawaiian children and youth from low-income families. Although Medicaid-funded health services are available for these high-risk groups, barriers such as stigma, lack of culturally competent care, and a shortage of qualified, participating providers prevent access to quality care. Under the direction of the Hui Ola Pono Program and in collaboration with the Hawai'i Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) of the Hawai'i Department of Health, this project aims to improve the efficiency, access, and quality of mental health services for Medicaid-eligible children and youth by providing program planning, supporting interagency collaboration and promoting strategy and policy development.

Goals:

• Partner with community health care providers and Medicaid-eligible families to identify the need for mental health services in children and adolescents
• Assist Medicaid-eligible families to identify and seek access to mental health services
• Develop and introduce new strategies for providing psychiatric services to Medicaid-eligible families in low-income and rural communities
• Utilize advance practice nurses in the role of Outreach Clinicians to offer knowledge related to mental health screening and Medicaid referral networks
• Examine ways that the State's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program can be used to improve access to Medicaid-funded mental health services for Hawai'i's children and youth

Project Activities:
TBA

Contact Information:
Ramona G. Chinn, PhD, APRN
Principal Investigator
(808) 956-5469
rgchinn@hawaii.edu

Noelani Wilcox, APRN
Outreach Clinician
nwilcox@hawaii.edu

Abbie Neves, APRN
Outreach Clinician
ajn06@hawaii.edu