2026 CHNA Implementation Strategy

As the mental health crisis continues across the country, children and teens are in greater need of mental health services than ever before.

HEALTHCARE ACCESS

• Partner with Kid One Transport – COA’s contribution helps support the non-emergent transport for children in over 50 counties to pediatric and primary care appointments. Annual transports average 15,000 - serving 2,000 children and parents. • Pediatric Access to Telemental Health Services (“PATHS”) - PATHS is a program dedicated to increasing capacity for primary care providers in all Alabama communities to diagnose, treat and manage mild to moderate behavioral health conditions in children and adolescents. It is designed to help primary care providers in these communities be better equipped to address pediatric mental health concerns.

PATHS provides: Behavioral health case consultation for primary care providers.

Referrals to behavioral health resources in the patient’s community where available.

Educational programs in the treatment of a variety of behavioral health disorders in children and adolescents.

Behavioral health services via telemedicine between a patient in the primary care office and a PATHS behavioral health professional at Children’s of Alabama, when specialist intervention is needed.

Care coordination for those patients with complex conditions or comorbid disorders.

As 2025 concluded, PATHS had enrolled over 130 practice sites and 517 participants, handling almost 1,500 telemedicine visits.

CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA

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IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY