Mental Health Matters: Introducing Collaborative Care Management at Raleigh Pediatrics

Medically reviewed by board-certified pediatricians, June 2026.

Navigating your child’s health is a journey that involves more than just physical checkups and vaccinations. As any parent knows, emotional and mental well-being are just as vital to a child’s growth as their physical milestones. However, finding the right support for mental health can often feel like navigating a maze of long waitlists, expensive out-of-network specialists, and fragmented care.

At Raleigh Pediatrics, we believe you shouldn’t have to manage these challenges alone. We are proud to announce our new Collaborative Care Management Program (CoCM): a proven, team-based approach, designed to integrate mental health support directly into the pediatric home you already know and trust.

What is Collaborative Care Management (CoCM)?

Collaborative Care is a shift in how we approach behavioral health. Traditionally, if a child struggled with anxiety, depression, or ADHD, a pediatrician might provide a referral to an outside specialist. This often left parents stuck between two different offices, navigating their mental health and pediatric care separately.

CoCM changes that. It is an evidence-based model that brings mental health support to the primary care setting. Your child’s treatment is managed by a dedicated team working together:

• Your Pediatrician: The doctor who knows your child’s medical history best.

• The Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM): A skilled professional who works directly with you and your child to implement strategies and monitor progress.

• The Pediatric Behavioral Health Psychiatric Consultant: A specialist who provides expert oversight and medication consultation to the team behind the scenes.

Affordable Mental Health Support for Children

By working together, our team ensures that your child’s needs will receive the mental health support they need, without the cost of a specialist visit. The program includes:

• Coordinated Treatment: A unified plan where everyone is on the same page and collaborates for the care of your child.

• Goal Setting & Brief Interventions: Helping your child set manageable, achievable goals to improve their well-being, plus create an action plan for managing daily symptoms.

• Regular Check-ins: Proactive follow-ups to see how your child is feeling, right here at Raleigh Pediatrics.

• Adaptive Care: Your care plan is adaptable and can be adjusted or stopped at any time.

How Collaborative Care Benefits Families

When it comes to your child’s health and benefits to our greater Raleigh community, results and accessibility matter most. There are three primary reasons why CoCM is a game changer for pediatric mental health:

1. It Works Faster and Better

Clinical studies consistently show that the Collaborative Care model is more effective than traditional referral-based care for mild to moderate behavioral health concerns in young patients. Because the care is proactive and data-driven, parents often see improvements in their child’s symptoms much sooner.

2. It Is More Affordable

One of the biggest hurdles to mental health care is the cost. Many private therapy practices do not accept insurance, leading to high out-of-pocket expenses. Because our CoCM program is integrated into our medical practice, it is contracted with most medical insurance providers. This typically makes it a much more cost-effective option for families compared to external mental health facilities.

3. Convenience and Comfort

There is a unique home-court advantage, so to speak, in receiving mental health support at Raleigh Pediatrics. Your child is already familiar with our offices, our staff, and our environment. This reduces the stigma and anxiety often associated with visiting a new, clinical mental health facility. Furthermore, because the program is managed in-house, the wait times are significantly shorter than those of external specialists, which can often stretch into several months.

Meet Our Behavioral Health Care Managers (BHCM)

The heart of this program lies in our Care Managers. These are the individuals who will be your primary point of contact. We are thrilled to have two exceptional professionals leading this initiative:

Whether you visit us at our Raleigh or Garner location, you will have access to a compassionate expert dedicated to your child’s emotional success.

Sydney is a Behavioral Health Care Manager at Raleigh Pediatrics’ office in Garner.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Health from East Carolina University and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sydney has a particular passion for pediatric mental health care and evidence-based therapeutic practices and is excited to help expand access to behavioral health support for children, adolescents, and families right here at RPA.

“One of my core beliefs is that there is no health without mental health. I have seen firsthand how emotional well-being impacts every aspect of a child’s life, which is why I am so passionate about this work. What excites me about CoCM is the opportunity to connect with children and families early, before challenges become crises, and provide the support, encouragement, and guidance they need to feel less alone as they navigate their child’s mental health journey.” – Sydney

In her role as a Behavioral Health Care Manager, Sydney hopes to be a steady source of support for families as they navigate challenges, celebrate progress, and advocate for their children.

She believes that every child deserves access to compassionate mental health care and that families should never have to face those challenges alone. Her goal is to help patients feel seen, heard, and supported as she walks alongside them through this program.

Outside of work, Sydney enjoys spending time with her husband, Joey, and their beloved pets, Bing and Beesly. She also enjoys reading, painting, trying new restaurants, and attending concerts around the Triangle.

Brooke is a Behavioral Health Care Manager at Raleigh Pediatrics’ office in Raleigh.

She has worked as an RN for 18 years, and at Raleigh Pediatrics for 5 years. The past 3 years she has worked in the Behavioral Health department helping patients in crisis, helping with referrals for mental health resources and facilitating consultations for behavioral health concerns with our physicians.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Individual and Family Studies from the University of Delaware, as well as a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Columbia University.

In her role as a Behavioral Health Care Manager, Brooke hopes to establish connections with children and their families that are navigating challenges, and need support and compassion, while also empowering them to learn tools and skills that will lead them on a path forward where they feel seen, heard and valued.

“I believe strongly that investing in pediatric mental health care is an investment in a child’s future. Early identification, compassionate support, and timely intervention help children build resilience, reach their full potential, and thrive throughout their lives.  The CoCM program supports this belief, and I’m so excited that we will be able to offer this evidenced-based program to our patients at RPA.” – Brooke

Outside of work, Brooke enjoys spending time with her husband, three children and two French Bulldogs.  She is a sports fan – particularly soccer and hockey – and enjoys traveling and being outdoors.

Taking the Next Step

We know that taking the first step toward mental health support can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to make that step as seamless as possible. You don’t have to spend weeks researching providers or wondering if your child’s doctor knows what the therapist is doing.

In the Collaborative Care Management Program, we handle the coordination so you can focus on what matters most: supporting your child.

If you have concerns about your child’s emotional well-being, mood, or behavior, please reach out to us. Speak with your pediatrician during your next visit or call our office to ask if the Collaborative Care Management Program is the right fit for your family.

At Raleigh Pediatrics, we’re not just caring for your child’s health – we’re here to help them thrive.