Case Study: Collaboration Between
UF Health (BRAVE Program)
and Hopscotch
Background:
UF Health is a comprehensive healthcare provider serving a diverse community across multiple counties in Florida. In 2019 UF Health St. Johns Care Connect Program launched Be Resilient and Voice Emotions (BRAVE), a state funded program that aims to connect students across the state to mental health services. Many students are unable to access mental health services due to cost and access barriers.
In order to accomplish their objectives of connecting these children to care, UF Health teamed-up with Hopscotch, a leading provider of therapy and mental health services dedicated to children and adolescents. Hopscotch specializes in evidence-based therapeutic interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), play therapy, and family counseling, tailored to the needs of young patients.
This joint effort has helped the BRAVE program deliver services to over 13,000 youth across the state, resulting in a 530% increase in youth mental health appointments. The program maintains a 94% satisfaction rate for its mental health services and boasts a no-show rate of just 6.9%, compared to the national average of over 18%. This reduced no-show rate translates to more than $240,000 in saved mental health appointment costs. (Source)
Key Features of the Partnership:
- Timely Access to Services: The referral process has led to a dramatic reduction in wait times for therapy. Children who were previously facing months-long delays for therapy now have appointments scheduled often within the week.
- Family-Centered Approach: The treatment at Hopscotch includes family therapy and psychoeducation to ensure that caregivers are empowered to support their child’s mental health. This family-centered care approach leads to improved outcomes.
- Evidence-Based Therapies: Hopscotch therapists use evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed care, all proven to be effective for treating a range of pediatric mental health issues.
- Gamified Resources Offered During Therapy: At Hopscotch, providers are equipped with Hopscotch Play, a robust platform which contains interactive games, stories and much more to ensure that therapy sessions are interactive and effective for children.
Results and Impact:
The relationship between UF Health (BRAVE program) and Hopscotch has yielded several positive outcomes:
- Increased Access to Care: Since the collaboration, Hopscotch has provided timely care to hundreds of children through the program. The streamlined referral process has reduced barriers to care and ensured that students in need receive services promptly. This effort has helped the BRAVE program with stay in alignment with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act which requires that students identified by the schools as needing mental health services be seen by a provider within 30 days. Thanks to Hopscotch’s services, these students are now being seen within the required timeframe instead of waiting months for care.
- High Patient and Family Satisfaction: Families have expressed high levels of satisfaction with both the referral process and the care their children have received. Testimonials from families consistently highlight how easy it is to access services and how well the therapists at Hopscotch connect with and support their children.
- Improved Mental Health Outcomes: Data from Hopscotch shows that children referred through BRAVE have shown significant improvement in mental health symptoms, including reductions in anxiety and depression scores. Academic performance has also improved as children gain better emotional regulation and coping skills.
- Cost-Efficiency and Preventative Care: By addressing mental health needs early, this collaboration has helped reduce the need for more intensive and costly interventions such as emergency room visits, inpatient psychiatric care, and Baker Acts. By connecting children who would have otherwise struggled to access mental health services to care, the program supports early intervention and promotes holistic health and well-being.
- Strengthened Community Health: The collaboration has contributed to a broader goal of improving overall community health. With greater access to mental health services, families report feeling more supported, and children are better equipped to thrive academically and socially.
Testimonials:
Victoria Bartow, BRAVE supervisor for South Florida, UF Health
"Our joint effort with Hopscotch has been an essential part of our commitment to providing comprehensive care for children. Behavioral health is a vital part of a child’s overall well-being, and through this collaboration, we've been able to offer families quick, easy access to high-quality therapy services that not only drive outcomes but are also something children genuinely look forward to experiencing.”