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