Mood, Anxiety, ADHD Collaborative Care (MAACC) Program

MAACC Team

The MAACC team consists of your pediatrician, our collaborative care program coordinator, child psychologist, consulting psychiatrist and a psychotherapist (often based in the community).

Our specialists include: 

• Courtney Romba, MD 

• John Parkhurst, PhD 

• John Lavigne, PhD

• Rachel Ballard, MD 

• Stephanie Stern, CNA, Program Coordinator

• Tara Ogletree, MS, Program Coordinator

The Lurie Children's Difference

Lurie Children's has a commitment to the overall health and wellbeing of children and families. Essential to the care of the whole child is the early identification and treatment of common mental health concerns including anxiety, ADHD, and depression. Lurie Children's, recognizing the increasing need for mental health care, is adopting a collaborative model to work with community pediatricians to improve early access to quality care closer to home. The collaborative model of care has been identified as a successful and consumer-friendly model of delivering evidence-based treatment for mental health care. It involves increased communication and follow up and care delivered by your pediatrician.   

What to Expect

All pediatricians who are involved with the MAACC program receive additional specialty training in assessment and treatment of mental health concerns. The following is an overview of MAACC procedures that you may encounter:

1. The MAACC enrolled pediatrician provides a referral for your child if they meet the criteria
2. A MAACC care coordinator calls you, the caregiver, to register with MAACC
3. You and your child meet with a psychologist within the Lurie Children's Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health for an evaluation
4. A treatment plan is developed
5. MAACC personnel work with you to identify a psychotherapist if needed
6. The MAACC child and adolescent psychiatrist works with your pediatrician on a medication management plan if needed
7. Your child’s progress is monitored and discussed between MAACC providers, pediatricians, and treating psychotherapists

Frequently Asked Questions

What Will Happen at the First Appointment with the Psychologist? 

This initial appointment will support the development of a treatment plan for your child. These appointments typically last 90 minutes.

• Both the child and parent will have the opportunity to speak with the psychologist independently.
• It is essential that you bring completed rating forms, sent to you before the first appointment.
• Following this appointment the psychologist will review this information and develop a treatment plan, reviewing it with the child psychiatrist.
• If needed, a second appointment can be scheduled with the psychologist to review the results.

What to Bring to the First Appointment?

You will be mailed a set of forms for you and your child to complete before your first appointment. There may also be times that we ask you to complete a measure over the phone with our care coordinator or send a measure to us via mail.

What Is a Treatment Plan?

This is the written evaluation following your meeting with the psychologist that will be discussed with the MAACC child and adolescent psychiatrist and your pediatrician. Treatment plans typically include:

• Personalized therapy recommendations and goals for therapy
• Medication recommendations if needed
• School and social recommendations

How Does MAACC Find a Therapist for My Child?

MAACC therapists include both Lurie Children’s Hospital psychologists and child and adolescent community therapists. MAACC works to find the best fit for your child, locating quality providers near your home, who provide evidence-based treatment (often Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and can see your child soon after an initial appointment with MAACC providers.

How Is Medication Prescribed?

The pediatrician will be prescribing medication if it is recommended, with ongoing support from the MAACC child and adolescent psychiatrist on management and dosing. Your pediatrician has constant access to the psychiatrist through phone consultation.

How Does MAACC Monitor Progress?

The MAACC care coordinator contacts you to have you, your child, and sometimes your child’s teacher complete rating forms. This allows us to track progress from the first appointment. Additionally, we communicate with other care providers to adjust treatment plans based on the information we receive.

Below are printable measures:  

• PROMIS A Youth (8 items)
• PROMIS A Parent (8 items)
• PROMIS D Youth (8 items)
• PROMIS D Parent (6 items)
• SCARED Youth (41 items)
• SCARED Parent (41 items)
• NICHQ Vanderbilt Parent Version (48 items)
• NICHQ Vanderbilt Teacher Version (34 items)
• NICHQ Vanderbilt Parent Follow-up (34 items)
• Moods and Feelings Questionnaire Parent (13 items)
• Moods and Feelings Questionnaire Youth (13 items)

Resources

Collaborative Care

• Behavioral Health in Primary Care, SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions

Childhood Anxiety 

• Anxiety Disorders Resource Center, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 

Depression 

• Depression in Teens, Mental Health America

Evidence-Based Therapy 

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Effective Child Therapy