Integrated Health

Call To Action:

Pediatric, prenatal, and perinatal screening for depression, ACEs and/or trauma needs to be routine and common place.

Perinatal depression is the most common obstetric complication in the United States, with prevalence rates of 15% to 20% among new mothers Untreated, it can adversely affect the well-being of children and families by increasing the risk for complications during birth and lead to deterioration of core supports, including partner relationships and social networks 37

Perinatal depression contributes to long-lasting, and even permanent, consequences for the physical and mental health of parents and children, including poor family functioning, increased risk of child abuse and neglect, delayed infant development and attachment, perinatal obstetric complications, challenges with breastfeeding, and costly increases in health care use Perinatal depression is identifiable and treatable

The US Preventive Services Task Force, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and many professional organizations recommend routine universal screening for perinatal depression in women to facilitate early evidence-based treatment and referrals, if necessary Despite significant gains in screening rates from 2004 to 2013, a minority of pediatricians and OBGYN doctors routinely screen for postpartum depression, and many mothers are still not identified or treated. This is a large systemic missed opportunity for fighting ACEs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine screening for ACEs, with studies showing that most pediatricians have not adopted the practice

Pediatric ACEs Screening in Palm Beach County

"Palm Beach Pediatrics (PBP) implemented the ACE questionnaire over 2 years ago to screen for possible childhood trauma in both mothers and their children. We started with a small population and have since expanded to more age groups. We give all mothers of patients new to our practice an ACE survey to complete as well as one for each new child. We also screen all 3 and 5-year-olds at their well visits. We were finding so many ACE surveys with more than 4 risk factors and were concerned that we would not have the resources to address them As pediatricians, we practice preventative medicine, so we feel strongly about doing our part to prevent long-term chronic illnesses The evidence connecting childhood trauma and lifelong medical conditions is overwhelming, so this is time well spent"

- Shannon J. Fox Levine, M.D. President and Pediatrician , Palm Beach Pediatrics

Palm Beach Pediatrics and Center for Child Counseling have partnered to provide an integrated mental health model. This collaboration will promote a best practice model of care that addresses the whole child, supporting social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development to ensure that children, adolescents, and families receive immediate access to mental health services, education, and resources