The Program for Improving Public Healthcare Systems (PIPS)

The Shriver Center’s Program for Improving Public Healthcare Systems (PIPS) offers training, certification, and support to Medicaid-funded behavioral health professionals in Massachusetts who serve children under the age of 21.

The Program for Improving Public Healthcare Systems (PIPS) focuses on three areas:

1. Providing Consultation and Technical Support to Health and Behavioral Health Systems:  
   1. Development, training, implementation and evaluation of universal screening and assessment tools; 
   2. Workforce interventions to improve the quality of practice in public sector systems
   3. Support policy make rs in developing data informed policy and regulatory decisions. 
2. Improve the Quality of Health and Behavioral Health Services through Implementation Science Research:
   
   1.  Research on the psychometric properties of assessment and screening tools.
   2.  Examining the design, implementation, and outcomes of interventions addressing access to and quality of care in youth behavioral health.  
   3.  Study and address disparities in access service quality and outcomes related to individuals with chronic health and behavioral health care needs.  
3. The Karpman Lab focuses on the use of simulation methodologies to support the validation and implementation of public sector behavioral health initiatives.

Funded by the MassHealth Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), the CANS Training Program seeks to improve and maintain the quality of behavioral health services for children, youth and their families. These trainings help providers enhance clinical skills, communication, information integration, and service planning.

PIPS in Plain Language