The Pediatric Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Program provides planning and ongoing implementation support to community health care organizations on Chicago’s West Side that are seeking to develop or enhance their pediatric behavioral health programming.
Areas of support
Areas for technical assistance support include:
- Integrating screening and behavioral health into primary care
- Efficient behavioral health intervention models
- Behavioral health care navigation
- Child and adolescent psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental behavioral health
- Interdisciplinary mental and behavioral health training
Who we are
Kyle Bersted, PhD, is an assistant professor in the departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Rush University Medical Center, the division chief of Pediatric Psychology, and the co-director of the child/pediatric track of Rush’s American Psychological Association-accredited Psychology Residency Program. Bersted has established new lines of patient care — including the integrated behavioral health clinic within Rush pediatric primary care, strengthened existing lines of care, created new triage processes, and collaborated on a variety of QI projects at Rush. Bersted also serves as the co-chair of the Department of Pediatrics Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and has created and distributed departmental climate surveys, planned annual retreats, led various initiatives aimed at improving diversity and inclusion in the department, and established the department’s Restorative Justice program.
Rosario Cosme, MD, is a bilingual (Spanish/English) child and adolescent psychiatrist, associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, medical director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, and fellowship training director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program. Cosme has devoted her career to educational, clinical and research activities, and has additional expertise in providing culturally sensitive care to youth. In addition to providing outpatient psychiatric care at Rush, Cosme works with community agencies to provide psychiatric evaluations and treatment to refugee children and with primary care doctors at Federally Qualified Health Centers to provide psychiatric services to children in those settings. Cosme has extensive experience training and mentoring students and junior faculty across diverse mental health disciplines such as medical students, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, social workers, psychiatry residents, child and adolescent psychiatry fellows, and international medical graduates. Cosme is committed to training a diverse workforce to address the mental health needs of underserved communities.
Erika Owen, MS, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social Worker, operations manager of Integrated Behavioral Health, Departments of Ambulatory Care Management and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the manager within the Adult and Pediatric Collaborative Care Programs. Owen has worked with the director of Integrated Behavioral Health to create and implement the position of pediatric behavioral health care manager to bridge primary care, psychiatry, and care management for the pediatric population.
Latha Valluripalli Soorya, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Rush, and director of the AARTS Center at Rush University Medical Center. Valluripalli Soorya has overseen the growth of AARTS over the last 12 years from a website-based resource directory to a nationally and internationally recognized autism program serving 3,000+ patients each year in our community. Valluripalli Soorya has a passion for training and mentorship, serving as a faculty member of Illinois Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and mentoring dozens of trainees and junior faculty over the last decade.
Allie Wainer, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, associate professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and the research director of the Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment, and Services (AARTS) Center. Wainer has overseen the development of a sustainable integrated pediatric behavioral health program for young children at Rush University Medical Center (Building Early Connections), enhancement of capacity of community-based providers to identify and intervene on early childhood behavioral health concerns, and engagement in a large-scale health child development community promotional campaign on Chicago’s West Side. Wainer also leads the Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship program in neurodevelopmental disabilities through the AARTS Center.
Emily Wolodiger, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Rush University Medical Center, as well as a member of the Society of Pediatric Psychology and the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. Wolodiger specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents providing psychotherapy, comprehensive evaluations and cognitive assessments. She served as the lead psychologist on the Building Early Connections program and was responsible for designing and overseeing implementation of clinical intervention services and training in evidence-based interventions for this program. Wolodiger runs the only psychology externship and postdoctoral fellowship programs specifically focused on integrated pediatric behavioral health in the city of Chicago.
Applying for technical assistance
- Complete the online application
- Meet with designated team members to assess your group’s needs and determine plan for receiving support
- Receive technical assistance support with routine progress monitoring
Please contact Emily Wolodiger, PhD, at emily_wolodiger@rush.edu for more information.