Vermont ADHD Initiative: A coordinated, statewide approach to diagnosing and treating children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Effective collaboration among educational and medical professionals and families/caregivers is crucial during the process of diagnosing and treating a child for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Unfortunately, communication among these groups is often lacking, leading to delays in diagnosis, making educational modifications and starting treatment, as well as increased frustration for children and families. In 2004, the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP), Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and Vermont Department of Education (DOE) convened a series of meetings that included parents, educational and medical professionals with the goal of designing a coordinated and comprehensive approach to addressing the needs of children with symptoms of ADHD and their families/caregivers. Using national ADHD diagnostic and treatment guidelines as the basis, this group developed an approach to clarify roles for all those involved in the ADHD diagnostic and treatment processes. The approach also conceptualizes ADHD as a chronic condition and reinforces, with specific examples, the importance of on-going collaboration. The process was captured as a flow diagram that has since been distributed throughout the State. The diagram has been used as the guiding framework for the design and implementation of three subsequent quality improvement initiatives. We will present qualitative data supporting the effectiveness of this framework and model, describe barriers to and methods for implementing change and discuss how this framework may be applied in other settings and for other mental health topics.