What we do
The HealthySteps Specialist Competencies
A new member of the care team
HealthySteps transforms the promise of pediatric primary care by integrating a HealthySteps Specialist into the primary care team, who contributes expertise in child development and behavioral health promotion and prevention. Together, they partner with families to foster healthy child development and lifelong well-being.
The dispositions, knowledge, and skills of this key role are defined and described in The HealthySteps Specialist Competencies.
The HealthySteps Specialist contributes a unique constellation of dispositions, knowledge, and skills in eight areas of practice that are critical to fulfilling the HealthySteps model and mission.
The HealthySteps Specialist Competencies
As with any set of professional competencies, this resource acknowledges the breadth and depth of expertise of this professional role and provides a framework for knowledge and skill development.
Listen to the recorded Virtual Learning Event (March 2022) when the HealthySteps Specialist Competencies were introduced to the Network. Hear from the writing team about the vision for and design of the Competencies and learn about ways they can be used to support HealthySteps Specialists in their critical work.
Meet the Writing Team
Melissa Buchholz, PsyD, IMH-E®, IV-C
Associate Professor, University of Colorado, School of Medicine;
HealthySteps State Director, Assuring Better Child Health and Development, Denver, CO
Paul Bulman, PhD
Assistant Director, Trauma Informed Care;
Supervising Psychologist, Pediatrics, Behavioral Health Integration Program
Montefiore Medical Group, Bronx, NY
Dominique Charlot-Swilley, PhD
Director, Provider Wellbeing Practice;
Expert Advisor/Technical Assistance of HealthySteps for Early Childhood Innovation Network,
Georgetown University Medical Center, Center for Child & Human Development, Washington, D.C.
DeAnn Davies, MS, CLC, C-IPMH
Director, Early Childhood Outreach and Pediatric Psychology, Summit Healthcare, Show Low, AZ
Kenya Malcolm, PhD, IMH-E®
Director, Infant and Early Childhood Initiatives, Department of Psychiatry;
HealthySteps Project Lead and Supervising Psychologist
University of Rochester-Golisano Children’s Hospital, Rochester, NY
Kate Margolis, PhD
Associate Professor, University of California-San Francisco;
Director, ZSFG Division of Integrated Behavioral Health, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, CA
Shaylee Perez, PsyD
Training and Technical Assistance Specialist, HealthySteps, Washington DC;
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, New York, NY;
Staff Counselor, Redeemer Counseling Services, New York, NY.
Note: The writing team’s professional titles are listed as of the writing of the Competencies and do not reflect current roles.
Honoring Those Who Came Before Us
During The HealthySteps Specialist Competencies Virtual Learning Event, participants were able to reflect and create a word cloud honoring all those in the field who have contributed to their knowledge and growth as HS Specialists. Note: This list is not exhaustive.
