Telehealth Learning and Consultation (TLC) Tuesdays - Telehealth with Children and Adolescents

Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center

The TLC Tuesdays series provides you with an opportunity to learn more about the use of technology to support telehealth delivery. 

Webinar Takeaways:

• Recommended using screen sharing with parents so that written steps, not just verbal, can be shared. Can also use screen sharing with older children or teens. Use of video modeling can be helpful in making sessions interactive. 
• When working with older children or adolescents, need to set specific parameters for parental involvement. Include parents in the consent process, discussion of expectations, confidentiality, and safety planning. 
• Shared app suggestions for tracking mood (Daylio) and rewards (iReward Chart). 
• School-based considerations: 
  • It is common that student email addresses are linked to student records. If this is true, students should be notified that what they disclose through their school email account are part of their record. 
  • Evaluate if students with IEPs or 504 plans would benefit from distance mental health services. If yes, create an individualized plan, confirm with case manager, and make sure that the modality used is district approved. Follow district guidelines and procedures. 
• The National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH)  shared COVID-19 resources. 
  • Important to maintain the routine and structure created in in-person sessions when using telehealth. 
  • Have an agreed upon sign with child/teen that indicates to the provider that a parent or family member is present and to change discussion topic as they no longer have privacy/confidentiality. Headphones can also help maintain patient’s privacy. 
  • Providers should consider using Google Voice so that they can mask private phone numbers. 
• Many questions about how to use telehealth effectively with children with ASD. Suggestions were to include parents in sessions so that they can help minimize distractions and provide structure. Recommended Vanderbilt resources (e.g., 3/31/20 webinar)