Pediatric Primary Care as a Component of Systems of Care.

Systems of care for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances have historically not included linkages with primary care. As part of a special issue of Evaluation and Program Planning focused on redefining systems of care, this article proposes that the inclusion of primary care as part of the systems of care framework has the potential to support the delivery of mental health services in primary care while also increasing the capacity of mental health specialists to address physical health problems. Although there are similarities in the core components of primary care and systems of care, a revised definition of systems of care that incorporates the goal of prevention and takes into account the broad primary care population would provide communities and policymakers with a definition that can be used to further the work of integrating the primary care and specialty mental health service sectors.