August 10, 2026—STFM is accepting applications for a task force to develop behavioral health scope of practice recommendations for family physicians. These will define a standard for behavioral health care within the specialty of family medicine that will:

  • Inform STFM initiatives for behavioral health education
  • Inform future ACGME program requirements
  • Inform updates to the AAFP Recommended Curriculum Guidelines for Behavioral Health and Professional Well-Being
  • Help residency programs create and implement curriculum that allows them to graduate residents who demonstrate competence in behavioral health care
  • Strengthen behavioral health care provided by family physicians to serve their communities across America

Specifically, the task force will:

  • Host a Family Physician Behavioral Health Scope of Practice Summit to develop initial consensus on scope of clinical competency for behavioral health in family medicine
  • Develop and conduct a Delphi Study
  • Draft recommendations based on the results of the Delphi Study
  • Open the draft recommendations for comments from members of family medicine organizations
  • Refine recommendations and request endorsement from the family medicine organizations
  • Publish and disseminate the Behavioral Health Scope of Practice Recommendations for Family Physicians through publications and presentations
  • Work with national organizations to update residency programs, curriculum, and competency guidelines