Idaho Pediatric Psychiatry Access Line

Children and an adult sitting around a table, engaging with colorful cards showing various food illustrations.

Expanding access to pediatric mental healthcare

The Idaho Pediatric Psychiatry Access Line (ID-PPAL) connects pediatric healthcare providers across Idaho with child and adolescent psychiatric expertise. Enrolled providers receive consultation and support to help assess and manage behavioral and mental health concerns in their pediatric patients. Providers and clinics pre-enroll here. 

What is ID-PPAL? 

ID-PPAL is built on three connected pieces of support to help clinicians in Idaho provide behavioral and mental healthcare for children and adolescents.

1. Psychiatric consultation line: Providers get real-time access to a child and adolescent psychiatrist for diagnostic, medication and treatment planning questions.

2. Clinical resource hub: Providers will have access to a centralized library of screening tools, referral pathways and family-facing resources you can use anytime between consultations.

3. Workforce development and continuing education for providers: REACH Institute training and ECHO Idaho equip you with practical skills and confidence to deliver high-quality behavioral health care for children and adolescents.

Why Idaho needs this

Idaho faces a significant shortage of child and adolescent psychiatric care, with families across the state often waiting months for specialty services and many rural communities lacking nearby specialists altogether. ID-PPAL helps bridge that gap by giving pediatric healthcare providers timely access to psychiatric expertise, helping more children receive behavioral and mental health support within the communities where they already receive care. 

Across Idaho, families and providers need greater access to timely pediatric mental health care.

  • Mental health access: Idaho ranks 48th nationally for mental health access and outcomes.
  • Psychiatrist shortage: Idaho has five child and adolescent psychiatrists per 100,000 youth, compared with a national benchmark of 47.
  • Appointment wait: Families may wait six to 12 months for a child psychiatry appointment in Idaho.
  • Youth mental health: Fifteen percent of Idaho youth ages 12 to 17 experience a behavioral health condition each year.  
  • Early onset: About half of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14 nationally. 

Get involved

Providers, families and schools can help connect Idaho children with behavioral and mental health support.

  • Providers and clinics: Pre-enroll with ID-PPAL now so you're ready to use the consultation line, free of charge, when it launches in 2027. You’ll also receive updates about upcoming ECHO Idaho sessions, REACH training, and program development. Pre-enroll and sign up for updates.
  • Parents: If your child is experiencing behavioral or mental health challenges, ask their healthcare provider about ID-PPAL and how this resource may support their care.  
  • Schools: Share information about ID-PPAL with families and encourage them to talk with their child’s healthcare provider about behavioral health support. Download school resource.

Have more questions about ID-PPAL? Contact idppal@uidaho.edu.

Pre-enroll and get updates

ID-PPAL is expected to launch in early 2027. Pre-enroll now to receive program updates and be ready to access services. 

Get connected

This website was supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $185,974,367.81 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.