CALM: Collaborative ADHD Learning in Maine

The overall aim of the CALM Project is to elevate the health of children by measurably improving the screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). By July 2018, the goal is to increase practice compliance up to 80% in the following domains: improve proper ADHD diagnosis and management so that patients are assessed for ADHD using a validated instrument across multiple major settings; parents of patients diagnosed with ADHD are given an educational ADHD booklet; and patients diagnosed with ADHD are prescribed behavior therapy.

 

This project will strongly align with the ADHD guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). It also fits into the broader efforts of the AAP Task Force on Mental Health to build alliances between primary care and families to prevent and identify mental health conditions and provide early intervention.

 

Maine Quality Counts (QC) and the Maine Chapter of the AAP (MAAP) propose to bring together up to 10 practice teams that will work with school personnel and parents and families in a year-long learning collaborative to improve care for ADHD. QC brings its demonstrated capacity to reach and engage health care providers and practice teams, utilize science-based quality improvement (QI) processes, and promote awareness and adoption of evidence-based best practices by clinicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders in order to improve population-based health metrics.  MAAP’s experience in effectively reaching and educating pediatric providers on expert content developed by the AAP makes this an ideal partnership to improve ADHD care.