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Dissemination and Implementation Science

CBT Workforce Development and Implementation of Training Systems

5 - (OP11) Transforming Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Healthcare Through a Regional Learning Network: A Guide for Leveraging Implementation Science

Thursday, June 25, 2026

5:13 PM - 5:30 PM PDT

Location: Yerba Buena Salon 4, B3 Level

Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Community-Based, Clinical Decision Making
Recommended Readings: Unaka, N., Stellar, J., Eaton, S., Seger, B., McClure, J. M., Mansour, M., Rich, M., Beck, A. F., Burkhardt, M., Lacasse, N., Robinson, C., & Anderson, J. (2024). Development and launch of a regional learning network to improve physical and mental health outcomes. Learning Health Systems, e10462. https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10462, McClure, J. M., Young, M., Whitehead, M., Scott, A. M., Junger, K., Holden, R., Herbst, R. B., Esposito, C., Ammerman, R. T., & Stark, L. J. (2024). Expanding access to evidence-based mental health treatment: An expert-driven training model. Evidence-Based Practice in Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2023.2284139, Young, M. A., Whitehead, M., Modi, A. C., Smolyansky, B., Stark, L. J., & McClure, J. M. (2024). Psychometric validation of the brief outcome survey: A transdiagnostic tool for measurement-based care. Evidence-Based Practice in Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2024. 2405907, ,

Author(s)

Jillian E. Austin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pediatric Psychologist
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Co-Author(s)

Jessica M. McClure, Psy.D.

Associate Chief Population Health Officer
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
MY

Melissa E. Young, Psy.D.

Assistant Professor
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati Chidlren's Hospital Medial Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
SE

Stephanie Eberle, M.A.

Director (Population Health)
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
KJ

Katherine E. Junger, Ph.D.

Director of Systems Integration
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
TR

Toria Reisman, M.P.H.

Population Health Consultant
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
JS

Jeffrey Steller, M.S.

Population Health Consultant
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnnati, Ohio, United States
BS

Brandy Seger, M.S.

Director of Systems Integration
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
NU

Ndidi Unaka, M.D.

Chief Health Equity Officer
Stanford Children's Health
Stanford, California, United States

Pediatric mental and behavioral health (MBH) needs far exceed available resources, yet few initiatives prioritize enhancing the training in and use of evidence-based practice, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and measurement-based care (MBC), or evaluate impact on population level clinical outcomes (e.g. rates of functional improvement, treatment lengths, patterns of acute care utilization). We describe the development of a regional learning network—the Pediatric Improvement Network for Quality (PINQ)—to expand access to CBT-informed care using quality improvement (QI) methods and shared learning. Ten community-based MBH teams (514 therapists) participated across two cohorts. Interventions included the network wide rollout of measurement-based care (MBC) training and weekly expert case consultations emphasizing CBT principles and case conceptualization. Each MBH team participated in QI work specific to their organization aimed at improving clinical outcomes. Following implementation, provider confidence in MBC improved, inpatient MBH utilization decreased, and access to evidence- and measurement-based care expanded. We present data on clinical outcomes, provider retention, and treatment success, as well as strategies for sustaining progress through QI support, data analytics, and clinical consultation. Challenges such as disparate EHRs and variable leadership engagement will be discussed. PINQ demonstrates that coordinated, data-driven efforts can accelerate adoption of CBT and improve pediatric MBH outcomes at scale.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the benefits of using a learning network, integrating collaboration and knowledge sharing among MBH organizations, to accelerate provider utilization of evidence-based treatment and improved population level outcomes.