To address the worsening mental health outcomes of Oklahoma's children and youth, the state needs a robust and accessible array of behavioral health treatment services available when and where they're needed. The latest installment in our multi-part research series on the children's mental health system in Oklahoma includes a comprehensive overview of outpatient, specialty, and integrated care.

Our findings suggest that children with behavioral health needs rely heavily on traditional therapy but often don’t receive other forms of outpatient and intensive services that can be necessary for long-term stability. Access to these services is also hampered by workforce shortages and insurance barriers. However, expanded adoption of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model and increased coordination between providers and schools can help increase the availability of, and access to, critical services for children.