Teaching a Systematic Approach for Transitioning Patients to College: An Interactive Continuing Medical Education Program.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to determine the effectiveness of a hands-on continuing education program for practicing child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAPs) with a focus on best practices in transitioning psychiatric patients to college. The plan was to build on the unique knowledge and skill set of CAPs, use audience and facilitator feedback from prior programs to inform program content, structure, and format, and incorporate findings from the evolving literature. METHODS: A 3-h interactive workshop was designed with an emphasis on audience participation. The workshop was divided into three main segments: didactics, whole group discussion/brainstorming, and small group discussion of illustrative case vignettes. RESULTS: Improvements and changes in knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to transition planning were identified by program participants. Quantitative feedback in the form of course evaluations, pre- and posttests, and a 6-month follow-up questionnaire indicate that the use of interactive teaching techniques is a productive learning experience for practicing CAPs. Qualitative feedback was that the discussion of the case vignettes was the most helpful. DISCUSSION: The use of a workshop format is an effective strategy to engage practicing CAPs in learning about and implementing best practices to support the transition of their patients to college and into young adulthood. Comprehensive and proactive transition planning, facilitated by clinicians, should promote the wellness of college-bound patients and help to reduce the potential risks in the setting of an upcoming transition.

A Model CSMH Curriculum for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Programs.

Child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAP) care for high school students preparing to enter college. They also may continue to see students while on school vacations and may care for college students in various settings (emergency room, inpatient hospital unit, private practice, college student health service, or counseling center). As increasing numbers of students with mental health diagnoses pursue secondary education, CAP need to be knowledgeable about campus systems of care, principles of transition, and privacy and educational laws affecting college students. This article describes an informal needs assessment of general CAP members of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and details the results of a survey of CAP program directors on training opportunities in college student mental health (CSMH). The authors present a sample curriculum for a clinical rotation in CSMH, as well as providing ideas for core didactic lectures, and proposing the development of online resources to reduce the burden of creating new lectures and standardize experiences among training programs.

Child and adolescent psychiatry training in the 21st century.

The mental health needs of the nation's children, adolescents and families are not being met for a variety of social, economic, cultural and political reasons. A shortage of children's mental health providers, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, is one aspect of the problem. Barriers to recruitment into the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) and proposed initiatives at the local and national levels to help alleviate the work force shortage are discussed. A description of the child and adolescent psychiatrist and the training requirements are provided. A challenge to training programs is to prepare graduates who are competent to provide critical mental health care to our youth and their families in the 21st century, while preserving the unique qualities of our profession.