$1.1M to expand pediatric behavioral health in rural Maryland - Children's National

Children's National has received $1.1 million as one of 41 grantees in the first year of Maryland's Rural Health Transformation Program, a collaborative effort among the Maryland Department of Health, the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and the Maryland Health Care Commission to improve rural access to primary, behavioral health and dental care. Children's National will use the award to support children and adolescents in Southern Maryland.

The project will begin in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties, where families often encounter limited pediatric specialists and long waits. Designed for youth ages 0 to 18, the model brings together clinical expertise, care coordination and telehealth-enabled services to create a more seamless path to support.

"This is an opportunity to build a stronger, more responsive system for children and families who need behavioral health support," said Elizabeth Wells, MD, MHS, executive vice president, chief clinical officer and physician-in-chief at Children's National. "By linking primary care, emergency departments, schools and community resources, we can identify needs earlier, connect families to the right services faster and create a model that can inform care across Maryland."

Why it matters

At the center of the work is the evidence-based Collaborative Care Model, which embeds behavioral health support into primary care. Children's National also will develop rapid evaluation and telepsychiatry pathways for emergency departments and offer school-based tele-behavioral health services.

Improving the future for children

The state investment creates a platform for Children's National to test and scale practical solutions that meet children where they already receive care. The work reflects the hospital's broader commitment to advancing pediatric innovation that improves outcomes, supports families and helps shape the future of behavioral health delivery.