Children’s TiPS

Supporting Children’s Mental Health Across Pennsylvania

For the past decade, Children’s TiPS (Telephonic Psychiatric Services) has helped primary care providers connect children and adolescents with timely mental and behavioral health expertise. Serving 27 Pennsylvania counties, the program has become a trusted resource for pediatric practices, delivering more than 65,000 psychiatric consultations since 2016 and helping thousands of families access the right care at the right time.

Children’s TiPS is available to children and adolescents in western Pennsylvania who are insured through Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), UPMC commercial insurance, or who are currently uninsured.

Rather than being a direct-to-patient service, Children’s TiPS is a provider-to-provider consultation program that gives primary care clinicians rapid access to child and adolescent psychiatric specialists. Available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the service helps primary care providers address mental and behavioral health concerns without unnecessary delays in care.

When a primary care clinician contacts Children’s TiPS, they are connected with a child and adolescent psychiatrist the same day—often within 30 minutes. TiPS psychiatrists can provide guidance on diagnoses, medications, screening tools, community resources, and other behavioral health concerns. When additional support is needed, psychiatrists can also connect families with care coordinators or licensed therapists.

To enroll in the program or for more information, call 1-844-972-8477.