2026 CHNA Implementation Strategy

Mental Health Awareness Conferences

Children’s will continue to host an annual mental health conference, o‡ering practical tools to help mental health professionals who work with children and families. Attendees include schoolteachers, counselors, DHR case workers, social workers, and nurses.

Regional Pediatric Pandemic Network (“PPN”)

Children’s and UAB Department of Pediatrics will continue to be one of the nation’s 10 pediatric hub sites, equipping healthcare systems and communities in Alabama with the tools, training, best practices, and resources needed to deliver high-quality pediatric care—both in routine emergencies and during major crises like pandemics and disasters, or global health threats. One program within the PPN slated for growth in 2026 is PSySTART (Psychological Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment), an evidence-based, rapid mental health triage and incident management system designed for use during disasters, pandemics, public health emergencies, and mass casualty events. This work is grant funded through HRSA.

Primary Intervention Summary

Intervention

Role in Strategy

Primary Audience

Expands pediatric behavioral healthconsultation, telemedicine, provider education, PCIT training, and school trainings statewide

Primary care providers, schools, children/families

PATHS

Provides no-cost mental health phone response, safety planning, caregiver education, referral navigation, and provider/community resource support Provides grief counseling for children and families a‡ected by the death of a child, sibling, parent, or guardian Provides education, prevention, and healing services related to suspected child abuse and neglect

Parents, caregivers, schools, community providers

PIRC

Amelia Center

Grieving children and families

Children, families, schools, communities

CHIPS Center

Mental Health Awareness Conference

Equips professionals who work with children and families with practical tools

Teachers, counselors, DHR, social workers, nurses

Regional Pediatric Pandemic Network / PSySTART

Builds pediatric crisis-response and mental health triage capacity during emergencies and disasters

Healthcare systems and communities

CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA

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IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY