Applications Now Open
TEAM UP Scaling and Sustainability Center
Funding Opportunity:
Request for Applications to Partner with TEAM UP
The TEAM UP—Transforming and Expanding Access to Mental Health Care Universally in Pediatrics—Scaling and Sustainability Center (TEAM UP Center) at Boston Medical Center (BMC) is pleased to offer primary care practices serving children and adolescents the opportunity to work with the TEAM UP Center in advancing integrated pediatric behavioral health care.
Why partner with TEAM UP to advance pediatric integrated behavioral health care?
Access to behavioral health care is an ongoing challenge in Massachusetts and beyond, with nearly 1 in 5 children experiencing a mental health issue; however, only roughly 50% of children with mental health issues receive treatment from a mental health professional. The average delay from the onset of symptoms to treatment is 11 years.
1 in 5
children experience a mental health issue
11
years average delay from the onset of symptoms to treatment
~50%
of children with mental health issues receive treatment from a mental health professional
Building on nearly a decade of work, the TEAM UP Center promotes positive child health and well-being through the consistent delivery of innovative evidence-based integrated care. Our team-based primary care model ensures that behavioral health risk factors and concerns in children and adolescents—from birth through young adulthood—are identified early and accurately, with safe and effective treatments provided in the most accessible settings.
TEAM UP, which began in 2015 and is now the standard of care in seven pediatric practices serving over 40,000 children, is expanding to reach 126,000 children in 29 clinics across the Commonwealth. Through this expansion, the TEAM UP Center is excited to announce its first request for applications (RFA), inviting primary care practices that serve children and adolescents to participate in this funding opportunity.
About the TEAM UP Model™
Developed collaboratively with pediatric primary care practices, the TEAM UP model is an innovative approach to integrating behavioral health into pediatric primary care. The model utilizes a fully integrated, multidisciplinary care team—including behavioral health clinicians (BHCs), community health workers (CHWs), and primary care providers (PCPs)—to promote healthy development and ensure early identification of emerging behavioral health issues and rapid access to care. Patients are often connected with behavioral health services within their pediatric medical home on the same day a concern is identified. Multiple studies show that the model’s approach to early identification, intervention, and treatment works to increase access, improve mental health outcomes, and reduce provider burnout.
The TEAM UP Learning Community
Practices that implement the model join the TEAM UP Learning Community as part of a cohort, where they receive in-depth clinical training, practice transformation support, and customized, data-driven technical assistance alongside other participating practices. This collaborative network provides ongoing guidance and tailored resources to support the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of integrated behavioral health (IBH) services within each practice.
Clinical Training & Workforce Development
In-depth, on-going clinical training designed to expand core knowledge of pediatric behavioral health with a focus on role-specific core competencies and specialized skills for BHCs, CHWs, and PCPs in the integrated primary care setting.
Practice Transformation & Technical Assistance
Practice transformation support to implement and sustain integrated behavioral health care through a data-driven quality improvement framework and customized technical assistance.
Since its inception, the TEAM UP Center has trained over 400 professionals and engaged more than 15 practices to implement the TEAM UP model or build capacity for IBH care. With the launch of this funding opportunity, new practices are invited to join this growing community, collaborating with other practices to implement and sustain a proven model that has demonstrated positive outcomes for children and families. TEAM UP practices screen for behavioral health issues at more than 90% of all well child visits—well above the documented Massachusetts state average of 68%—and children are routinely connected to same-day, on-site care. Symptoms get better over time, with improvements in health-related quality of life and better school attendance. The TEAM UP model has contributed to decreased burnout and increased professional fulfillment across the primary care workforce, as well as increased primary care visits without impacting the total cost of care.
Investment in Evaluation, Research, and Advocacy
The TEAM UP Center has a robust evaluation team and is committed to using data to drive practice transformation, support advocacy efforts, and advance the IBH field. As part of model implementation, participating practices engage in a mixed-methods evaluation, with metrics gathered from electronic medical records (EMR) and staff surveys, alongside a separate analysis of claims data from the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database. This approach allows us to measure implementation progress and impact at the practice level.
Read our peer-reviewed literature→
The TEAM UP Center has contracted with Relevant Healthcare to support EMR data collection, sharing, and utilization. Relevant has a long history of partnering with community health providers, particularly federally qualified health centers, to streamline data collection processes and translate data into actionable insights through the creation of an implementation dashboard. Their expertise will enhance evaluation efforts, support meaningful participation for practices, and defray practice-level data collection and reporting burdens.
Read Appendix: About Relevant Healthcare →
Advocacy is a key element to ensuring the long-term viability of IBH care, specifically for children and adolescents, by supporting policies and payment structures that align with practice investments. The TEAM UP Center collaborates with Health Care For All to advocate for policies that improve reimbursement for key services within pediatric integrated care models.
About the Funding Opportunity
We invite Massachusetts-based primary care practices serving children and adolescents to apply to join our next cohort to implement the TEAM UP model. The TEAM UP Center will provide practices with the financial, technical, and operational support needed to successfully integrate behavioral health care into their primary care services for children and adolescents. Our support includes role-specific clinical training for BHCs, CHWs, and PCPs, as well as interdisciplinary team-based training to strengthen collaboration and care delivery.
Benefits of Participation
Participating practices benefit from comprehensive financial, technical, and operational support. This section outlines the key benefits provided to practices.
Financial and Infrastructure Support
- Scaled funding between $100,000-$300,000 based on the size and demonstrated need of the patient population, as well as the staffing and infrastructure support needs of the practice. Funding will be disbursed through milestone-based payments over 30 months to support practice investments, such as staffing, protected time to engage in training and implementation efforts, and evaluation and project-related activities.
- Access to a dynamic data dashboard powered by Relevant to track metrics and performance over time. The dashboard will integrate data from EMR systems to provide real-time insights to support practice transformation efforts and inform the TEAM UP Center’s research and evaluation activities. The TEAM UP Center will fund Relevant to create a dashboard for each participating practice and populate a warehouse of data accessible to the TEAM UP Center’s evaluation team. Of note, the warehouse will include de-identified EMR data and no protected health information from patients in participating practices.
Non-Financial Benefits
For patients and families:
- Prompt access to needed mental and behavioral health services in a climate where resources are scarce
- More comprehensive and responsive care from a multidisciplinary team
- Improved experience navigating healthcare systems
- Care from providers who are highly trained
For staff/direct care providers:
- Focused training for all core members of the multidisciplinary care team, as well as responsive and tailored technical assistance
- Ongoing professional development over the course of 30 months, followed by access to free training opportunities as TEAM UP “alumni”
- Improved professional vitality and fulfillment, and reduced risk of burnout
- Improved care coordination and collaboration amongst staff teams
- Connection to peers and colleagues in the field across the state
- Opportunities to contribute to field building and advocacy
For organizations:
- Alignment with the current MassHealth 1115 Demonstration Waiver, supporting team-based care, improved coordination, and quality metrics
- Department-wide training opportunities that improve organizational culture and quality care
- Guidance in revenue optimization and other quality improvement measures
- Increased staff satisfaction and stability
- Certification as a TEAM UP practice upon successful completion of the initiative
Expectations and Commitments
The TEAM UP Center is committed to supporting practices in delivering high-quality, integrated, and culturally responsive behavioral health care to promote equitable access to services for all children and adolescents. Through this partnership, we advance health equity with the aim of sustaining gains beyond the funding period. Over a 30-month period, participating practices will assemble a team to lead implementation within the practice, as outlined in the following Practice Expectations and Practice Commitments. Please refer to Appendix: TEAM UP Model Implementation Activities for more details.
Read more in Appendix: TEAM UP Model Implementation Activities. →
Practice Expectations
Participating practices will:
- Deliver evidence-informed IBH services through a fully staffed care team of BHCs, CHWs, and PCPs directly integrated within the primary care clinic(s)
- Ensure all patients have access to culturally responsive, trauma–informed, family-centered care in alignment with the TEAM UP model
- Develop and implement clear processes for team collaboration and patient referrals through standardized workflows that align with TEAM UP model components
- Collaborate with Relevant to share accurate and timely data to support implementation tracking, quality improvement, and evaluation
- Work toward TEAM UP model certification through active engagement and continuous improvement
Practice Commitments
Participating practices commit to the following requirements to successfully implement the TEAM UP model.
For more detail on time commitment by team role, read Appendix: Learning Community and Practice Staffing Requirements. →
- Form a core project team composed of key staff outlined below who will lead practice transformation efforts and ensure that all BHCs, CHWs, and PCPs are also able to participate in those efforts.
- Designate a member of the executive leadership to serve as an Executive Sponsor to champion the initiative, participate in key activities, and facilitate decision-making and allocation of resources to support implementation of the model towards TEAM UP certification within the practice.
- Appoint Clinical Champions with expertise and leadership authority in both primary care and behavioral health to lead implementation and ensure sustainability.
- Assign administrative leads, including a Project Manager, IT Representative, and Billing Representative, to oversee operational components, including project deliverables, data set-up and sharing, billing, and workflow optimization.
- Engage clinical and administrative staff and providers in all TEAM UP Learning Community training, activities, and annual community events, including a limited number of in person events and trainings.
- Ensure EMR readiness by adding simple standardized documentation templates and collaborating with Relevant to share data through your practice dashboard.
- Commit to proactively engage patients and families in the transformation process.
Join us for an upcoming webinar to learn more about TEAM UP and this funding opportunity. Details on the webinar dates and times, as well as other options on how to get in touch with us are outlined in the Recruitment Process section.
Recruitment Process
Our recruitment process is designed to be transparent and supportive, helping us get to know your practice, your goals, and how we can best partner with you. In an effort to minimize the burden of applying, we are adopting a two-step approach that includes an application and a direct follow-up discussion with each practice.
Step 1: Submit an Application
The application helps us understand your practice’s capacity, service model, and IBH goals. This is an opportunity for us to learn more about your needs and how the TEAM UP Center can support you.
Step 2: Review and Follow-Up
Upon receiving your application, we will follow up to gain a deeper understanding of your practice and explore ideal and meaningful opportunities for engagement.
Key Recruitment Dates and Deadlines
| Informational Webinars (Two options available) |
Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 8:30-9:30am EST or Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 12:30-1:30pm EST |
| Technical Assistance Office Hours (Two options available) |
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 8:30-9:30am EST or Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 12:30-1:30pm EST |
| Application Deadline | Friday, May 9, 2025, 5:00pm EST |
Informational Webinar
Both informational webinar sessions will cover the same material. Recordings will be posted for those unable to attend live. Please register for the informational webinar session you plan to attend.
Technical Assistance Office Hours
We will offer two technical assistance office hours to answer questions about the application and the initiative. Please register for the technical assistance office hours you plan to attend. Recordings will be posted for those unable to attend live. The FAQs will be updated regularly with questions and content from informational and technical assistance webinars, as well as emails received during the open recruitment period.
Application Overview
The application is designed to help us assess key aspects related to each practice’s capacity to implement the TEAM UP model. Below are the domains that will be assessed:
- Organizational Overview: Core services, affiliations, organizational structure, and, if applicable, current tier level designation within the MassHealth primary care sub-capitation program
- Patient Population: Payor mix, characteristics of communities served
- Pediatric Developmental and Behavioral Health Needs and Services: Prevalence of behavioral health conditions and availability of existing behavioral health services
- Clinical Model: Current screening practices, diagnostic processes, and access to mental and behavioral health services
- Operational Infrastructure: Existing staffing, EMR systems, and billing practices
- Organizational Priorities: Alignment with TEAM UP’s mission and commitment to full implementation of the care model
- Practice Leadership and Staffing Plan: Key leadership roles, including executive, clinical, IT, and billing
- Supporting Documentation: Leadership bios
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
To support a successful partnership, practices must demonstrate capacity, readiness for change, and organizational commitment. Interested practices should meet the following foundational criteria for participation:
- Pediatric primary care or family medicine practice
- Located in Massachusetts
- Minimum patient panel of about 2,500 children and adolescents
- No planned changes to the EMR system in the next 36 months
- Commitment to participate in all practice transformation and evaluation activities
Selection Criteria
The TEAM UP Center will lead the review and selection process for the next cohort of participating practices based on the following criteria. These criteria will guide the selection process to ensure participating practices are positioned to successfully implement and sustain the TEAM UP model as part of the next cohort.
- Demonstrated Need: The volume and characteristics of the patient population expected to benefit from the intervention. Examples may include but are not limited to a high proportion of publicly insured or uninsured patients, and/or significant gaps in access to mental and behavioral health care within the community.
- Organizational Commitment: Clear institutional commitment to implementing and sustaining the TEAM UP model, including alignment with the practice’s overall strategic goals.
- Leadership Strength: Ability of organization’s leadership and key personnel to champion the initiative within the practice.
- Infrastructure and Data Capacity: Strength of existing infrastructure to support pediatric behavioral health integration, quality improvement, and evaluation activities, including the capacity to support data sharing.
- Capacity to Contribute to Learning and Innovation: Experience providing data for evaluation and practice transformation, potential to demonstrate clinical improvement within the initiative period, and commitment to critical thinking, collaboration, and transparent data sharing within the TEAM UP Learning Community.
Get in Touch with the TEAM UP Center
Staff in the TEAM UP Center are available to support practices throughout the application process. Please email Recruitment.TEAMUPCenter@bmc.org with any questions you have. We will update the Recruitment FAQs regularly to share responses.
We recognize that practices are at different stages in achieving their IBH goals. Even if your practice is not quite ready for full model implementation, you can still make significant strides in enhancing IBH access for your patients by partnering with the TEAM UP Center. We offer a variety of pathways to support your progress. Please complete this interest form to tell us more about your practice and to help us understand how we can best support your goals.