The Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) builds upon the NP or CNS role to provide advanced assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of common behavioral and mental health problems in children and adolescents. Therapeutic services include early recognition, intervention, and active monitoring as well as appropriate referral for complex individual and family mental health disorders. Health care services are evidence-based and include the use of behavioral and mental health screening tools, brief psychotherapeutic interventions, and psychopharmacology. The APRN PMHS coordinates care and collaborates with others to enhance quality mental health services for children and families. Practice settings may include pediatric primary care, family practice, school-based clinics, and developmental or other specialty services.
