2026 CHNA Implementation Strategy

Mental and behavioral health was the top community concern identified in the 2025 CHNA.

Community Need Mental and behavioral health was the top community concern identified in the 2025 CHNA. Children’s will address this need by extending pediatric behavioral health expertise into communities through telehealth, primary care consultation, school-based education, crisis navigation, grief support, abuse prevention, and statewide partnerships. This approach is designed to improve early identification, expand access to appropriate services, reduce stigma, and strengthen the ability of families, schools, pediatricians, and community providers to respond to the mental health needs of Alabama’s children. Children’s Role Children’s of Alabama is positioned to address this need by extending pediatric behavioral health expertise beyond the hospital walls through telehealth, provider consultation, crisis navigation, school-based education, grief support, abuse prevention, and statewide partnerships. Children’s will focus on strengthening the capacity of parents, schools, pediatricians, community providers, and local systems to identify needs earlier, connect children to appropriate services, and reduce avoidable crisis utilization. Strategic Response Children’s will use a multi-channel behavioral health strategy focused on: • expanding access to pediatric mental health consultation and telehealth; • supporting primary care providers in diagnosing and managing mild to moderate behavioral health conditions; • improving crisis navigation and referral pathways for families; • reducing stigma through education and community outreach; • strengthening school and community capacity to recognize and respond to behavioral health concerns; • equip parents and caregivers to recognize early warning signs, reduce stigma, understand crisis resources, and connect children to appropriate behavioral health services; • supporting children and families affected by grief, trauma, abuse, and neglect.

CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA

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IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY