Often, children who are diverted from inpatient hospitalization after presenting with high-risk factors do not receive behavioral health services after discharge. This could happen if the families have not taken the initiative to maintain continuity of behavioral health services at community based centers.
For policy planners and case managers alike the crucial question in this situation is:
“Who are the children that were discharged from inpatient hospitalization recently but have not yet been connected with community based behavioral health services?”
Identifying such cross-program care gaps and disconnects is the beginning of a more coordinated care delivery process and a journey towards better outcomes for children and their families.