71.3 Training and Continuing Education Initiatives to Meet the Growing Pediatric Behavioral Health Need in North Carolina: Leveraging Workforce Development in a Predominantly Rural State

Abstract

In North Carolina (NC), there is only 1 child and adolescent psychiatrist (CAP) for every 7000 children, and 80% of NC counties are considered rural. Given the increasing numbers of children with behavioral and mental health (B/MH) needs and the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists, there is a growing need for primary care providers (PCPs) to manage B/MH concerns. Although PCPs report feeling unprepared to manage B/MH conditions, analyses of 2017-2018 NC Medicaid claims indicate that about half of pediatric PCPs prescribed at least 1 filled psychotropic medication, indicating that training is needed to ensure that best practices are being followed.