Pediatric Psychosocial Preventative Health Model (PPPHM): Research, practice, and collaboration in pediatric family systems medicine

A biopsychosocial framework for assessing and treating families of children in pediatric health care settings is presented. Guided by a social ecological perspective on child health, the Pediatric Psychosocial Preventative Health Model (PPPHM) is a 3-tier model based on a public health orientation. The goal of the PPPHM is to conceptualize how families of acutely and chronically ill children might be provided psychosocial support to match their level of need and risk. The largest group of families, Universal, consists of competent and adaptive families confronting health-related stressors. A smaller group of families, Targeted, is at some elevated risk for ongoing psychosocial difficulties. The smallest group of families, Clinical/Treatment, exhibits more evident symptomatology. Examples of family and systems interventions that integrate care among behavioral health care providers and within multidisciplinary treatment teams, across levels of the PPPHM, are presented and discussed.