CHES® Champions Initiate First Pediatric Behavioral Health Home Using Wraparound in the United States

ABSTRACT

As health education professionals, it may be easy to overlook the significance of the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) Responsibilities and Competencies. This commentary discusses how Certified Health Education Specialists at one nonprofit organization brought the Responsibilities and Competencies to life as they planned, implemented and evaluated a novel integrated health program for youth with co-occurring behavioral and physical health needs. Through their commitment to high-quality demonstration of the NCHEC Responsibilities and Competencies, these Certified Health Education Specialists successfully introduced the valuable role of the CHES® certification to the multidisciplinary providers and diverse families within their community.

Acknowledgments

We thank Dean Pastras, CEO of Bergen’s Promise, for the opportunity to implement innovative practices within Bergen’s Promise Behavioral Health Home. We would also like to acknowledge Ellen Indoe, a founding Certified Health Education Specialist of Bergen’s Promise Behavioral Health Home.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.