Enrichment · Wellbeing

Finding care for
your child, call by call.

Getting a child into mental health care usually means a lot of calls, voicemails and waitlists. Keep every option on one page: who they are, whether they see your child’s age, how it is paid for, how long the wait is and what you will do next. The page tells you which calls to make next and what to ask.

Add the first optionWhat you get

Care options

The worked example is made up, with 555 numbers. Saved on this device only.

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What you get

Enrichment · WellbeingFree

What you finish with
A card for each care option: the kind of care, the practice, phone, ages seen, payment, the wait in days, in person or video, when you contacted them, the status and the next step. Shows the shortest wait and appointments scheduled; flags long waits, unknown payment, an age they do not see and messages waiting for a call back.
Who it is for
Parents, guardians and caregivers of children and teens; school counselors sharing a tracker with a family.
Format
Browser tracker with a saved card per option. Prints one card, all options in a table or a blank card; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Wellbeing space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Start with your child’s pediatrician or family doctor and the school counselor.
  2. Call the member services number on the insurance card for a list of in-network providers.
  3. For each place, ask three questions: do you see this age, how is it paid for, how soon is the first appointment.
  4. Write the status and a next step after every call.
  5. Take the first good opening and stay on other waitlists. If things get worse while you wait, call or text 988.

Add the first option

The kinds of care, and who does what

Where to start when your child needs help1Pediatrician or family doctorRules out health causes, canscreen and refer.2School counselorSees your child at school andknows local options.3Insurance member servicesThe number on the card listsin-network providers.4Licensed therapistTalk therapy, often weekly.Ask about their training.5Psychiatrist or psychiatric NPIf medication may help. Oftena longer wait.6In a crisisCall or text 988, call 911 orgo to an ER.Where to start when your child needs help1Pediatrician or family doctorRules out health causes, can screen andrefer.2School counselorSees your child at school and knowslocal options.3Insurance member servicesThe number on the card lists in-networkproviders.4Licensed therapistTalk therapy, often weekly. Ask abouttheir training.5Psychiatrist or psychiatric NPIf medication may help. Often a longerwait.6In a crisisCall or text 988, call 911 or go to anER.
You can call several at once. Taking the first good opening and staying on other waitlists is normal.

Starting with the doctor

A pediatrician or family doctor is often the quickest first step. They can check for health causes, use a short screening questionnaire, start treatment for some concerns and refer you on. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends depression screening for children 12 and older at checkups.

Therapists and psychiatrists

Therapists, who may be psychologists, clinical social workers, counselors or marriage and family therapists, provide talk therapy. Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners can diagnose and prescribe medication. Ask whether they work with children and teens.

While you wait

Keep in touch with the school counselor and the pediatrician, and ask what to watch for. If your child talks about wanting to die or hurting themselves, call or text 988 or call 911. You do not need to wait for an appointment.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics: Mental health screening in primary care; depression screening from age 12 (healthychildren.org; Bright Futures).
  2. National Institute of Mental Health: Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage? and Tips for talking with a health care provider (nimh.nih.gov).
  3. National Alliance on Mental Illness: Types of mental health professionals (nami.org).
  4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: FindTreatment.gov, a confidential locator for treatment facilities.
  5. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988lifeline.org): call or text 988, chat online, 24 hours a day.

The worked example is made up. This tracker helps you organize the search; it is not medical advice, a referral or a crisis service. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.