Health Equity Reimagined
Solutions in Action: Spotlight
Mental Health Access for Children a Top Priority for Assistant Dean
When families need immediate psychiatric care for their children, many are told to take their children to the emergency department or wait until a specialized provider can be available. Anne Derouin is working to change that by arming more pediatric primary care providers with the skills to intervene and enhance access to care in under-resourced settings such as schools and rural communities.
鈥淚nterestingly, DUSON is the only program in the U.S. that has such a training,鈥 said Derouin, who has taught at the 色戒直播 since 2011. 鈥淭here are two other self-guided virtual training opportunities for practitioners, but 色戒直播 is currently the only academic setting offering this training.鈥
Anne Derouin
Director of the Pediatric Behavior Mental Health Specialty Program
Derouin currently serves as the Director of Pediatric Behavior Mental Health specialty program. She is a dual-certified pediatric nurse practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in pediatric nursing. She has also completed clinical service and research projects in Africa and Central America.
Aside from her work at 色戒直播, Derouin serves as an adolescent clinical expert and has served in numerous leadership positions in professional nursing organizations, such as the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, School-based Health Alliance and Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine.
Derouin鈥檚 goal is to prepare advanced practice nurses for the role of a pediatric behavioral mental health specialist. Using skills taught at 色戒直播, nurses can assess, diagnose, begin treatment, and offer early intervention for children and teens with common mental health conditions.
鈥溕渲辈 School of Nursing has recently been awarded a HRSA funded grant entitled APPLES (Advancement of PMHNP/PNP-PC Learning Experiences & Service) that will provide scholarship funding for graduate students to gain mental health training at 色戒直播 and will add more pediatric-focused content to the PMHNP program,鈥 Derouin said. The grant funding will also enhance a collaborative relationship with indigenous populations and clinical partners located in Alaska, Montana and eastern North Carolina. Derouin plans to expand the program to western North Carolina as the grant unfolds.
鈥淥ur goal is to provide education, competency and confidence for our graduates to provide services to the most vulnerable populations in the state and nation, combatting the mental health crisis,鈥 she said.
Anne Derouin, DNP, APRN, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, is Director of the Pediatric Behavior Mental Health specialty program at the 色戒直播 School of Nursing.