What is it about?
Many kids and teens in Vermont struggle to get mental health care, especially in rural areas. The Vermont Child Psychiatry Access Program (VTCPAP) was created to help. It connects local doctors with mental health experts for same-day advice, so doctors can better care for young patients’ mental health needs. In just over a year, the program supported nearly 600 consultations. Doctors said it helped them feel more confident treating mental health and made their jobs easier. New features are being added to make the program even more helpful and reach more families.
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Why is it important?
This work is important because it addresses the growing mental health needs of youth, especially in rural areas where access to care is limited. While many states now offer child psychiatry access programs, Vermont’s approach is notable for its rapid launch, strong partnership among statewide organizations, and early impact. By providing same-day support to local doctors, the program helps more children get timely mental health care close to home. As youth mental health challenges continue to rise, Vermont’s experience offers valuable insights for strengthening care across the country.
Perspectives
We hope this article will provide smaller, rural, and under-resourced states with a model for leveraging existing state resources to create a robust statewide consultation service with minimal administrative burdens.
Abigail Koch
Trayt Health
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Vermont Child Psychiatry Access Program: Statewide Partnership to Expand Primary Care Capacity for Youth Mental Health, Psychiatric Services, March 2025, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20240440.
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