New Initiative Targets Children’s Mental Health

June 14, 2004 New Initiative Targets Children's Mental Health Only half of children with social or emotional problems are identified by primary care physicians and only a fraction receive appropriate care. On April 15, 2004, the Commonwealth Fund announced the launch of the second phase of the Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) initiative, which focuses on a neglected area of pediatric primary care – young children's mental and behavioral development. Under ABCD II, five states – California, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Utah – will develop models of service delivery and financing to promote healthy mental development in children under . . .