American Academy of Pediatrics Launches Initiative to Address Adolescent Substance Use and Mental Health Concerns

Strategic Insights -

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has announced that three state chapters have joined its Practice Improvement to Address Adolescent Substance Use (PIAASU) project to address substance use and mental health concerns in adolescents. The project is made possible through a $1.2 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. The AAP chapters in Connecticut, Georgia, and Utah will lead a quality improvement effort targeting pediatric practices, providing tools, educational resources, and technical support to implement changes that support adolescents who are not currently using substances and improve the care of those facing substance use or mental health concerns.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PIAASU project aims to improve the care of adolescents by addressing substance use and mental health concerns in pediatric practices.
  • The project is led by AAP chapters in Connecticut, Georgia, and Utah, which will form teams including pediatricians, project managers, and substance abuse or mental health experts.
  • Participating practices will collect baseline chart review data and address key practice-level measures as part of their improvement efforts.
  • The project will result in the development of an online educational course through the AAP's Education in Quality Improvement for Pediatric Practice (EQIPP) module.
  • Pediatrics participating practices will receive tools, educational resources, and technical support to implement changes to support adolescents who are not currently using substances and improve the care of those facing substance use or mental health concerns.
  • The PIAASU project is made possible through a $1.2 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Statistics:

  • Three state chapters have joined the PIAASU project: Connecticut, Georgia, and Utah.
  • The project is made possible through a $1.2 million grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
  • Participating pediatric practices will collect baseline chart review data.
  • Each state chapter will form a team including at least three experts: a pediatrician, project manager, and substance abuse or mental health expert.
  • Participating practices will recruit 10 to 15 pediatric practices to participate in the program.

Sources:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. (n.d.). AAP announces practice improvement effort to address adolescent substance use. Press Release.
  • Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. (n.d.). Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Grant.