Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP)
Did You Know?
- Virginia ranks 48th lowest in the country for prevalence of mental illness in our youth compared to access to care. (The State of Mental Health in America, 2023)
- Virginia ranks 39th lowest for the number of psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, counselors, and advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care per population. (The State of Mental Health in America, 2023)
- Only four counties have sufficient child and adolescent psychiatrists; there are only 14 of these practitioners per 100,000 children in Virginia. (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2019)
- 91% of Virginia localities are mental health professional shortage areas. (VDH Data from HRSA, 2022).
Why VMAP?
About 22.1% of U.S. children face mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral challenges. Half of all mental illnesses start by age 14. Often, patients initially seek help from primary care providers. With a shortage of mental health providers in Virginia, many children lack necessary support. VMAP aims to bridge this gap.
What is the Virginia Mental Health Access Program?
The Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) expands access to mental health expertise by facilitating consultation between psychiatric providers, licensed mental health professionals and children’s primary care providers. VMAP also increases access to care through care navigation services and referral support. Enrollment to this service is FREE and available to all primary care physicians in the community with patients 21 years of age or younger.
Register Here for the Virginia Mental Health Access Program.
Schedule a Lunch and Learn Session with Our VMAP Support Team
To schedule a lunch-and-learn session or to receive more information about VMAP please reach out to our Eastern Region team by contacting Victoria.Cartagena@chkd.org or calling (888) 371-8627, ext. 2.
What to expect?
Enrolled primary care providers can speak to a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, a licensed mental health professional, or a regional care navigator about a specific case Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling (888) 371-VMAP (8627), ext 2.
Be prepared to provide:
- Provider details and call back number.
- Patient information, including name, DOB, insurance, and zip code.
- Reason for consult/care navigation request and relevant background information.
Education and Training
VMAP-enrolled providers access year-round education and training to manage pediatric mental health needs. These opportunities improve care for children and adolescents. Eligible providers in Virginia, including pediatricians, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, and PAs, can participate at low to no cost.
View a List of Upcoming Trainings
Enrolled providers can access the VMAP Guidebook, a comprehensive resource tailored for pediatric and adolescent healthcare. It offers evidence-based practices and up-to-date resources.
Meet Your VMAP Team
Sarah Merten, LPC, Eastern Region Licensed Mental Health Professional
Sarah is serving as the Lead LMHP for the Eastern Region. Sarah has extensive experience working with children and families in outpatient and community mental health settings, providing clinical supervision to Residents in Counseling, and collaborating with community providers to ensure high-quality coordinated care. Sarah is excited to partner with pediatric medical providers to support children's mental and behavioral health and improve access to care across the region.
Brooke Clark, LCSW, Eastern Region Licensed Mental Health Professional
Brooke is serving as a Licensed Mental Health Professional for the Eastern Region. Brooke brings extensive clinical experience supporting children, youth and families with specialized expertise in trauma-informed care, therapeutic foster care and supporting military communities. Brooke looks forward to collaborating with regional pediatric teams to bridge gaps in care and provide comprehensive, high-quality support to children and families across the region.