This brief from the Urban Institute discusses options for enhancing mental and physical health care and related services for parents through Medicaid and CHIP programs. 

From the report:

Many young children have developmental or behavioral problems that could be addressed or even prevented with the right early response but that are not identified or treated before entering kindergarten, compromising children’s ability to perform up to their potential in school and leading to more costly health and special education interventions later. Because the quality of parenting is so critical to young children’s development, parental or family difficulties— including maternal depression and other parental mental health and medical problems—can endanger children’s development. In these situations, treating parents may be crucial to getting children’s development back on track. Yet, for many reasons, parents often do not receive needed medical or mental health care or other supportive services.  

Full Report: Meeting Parents’ Health and Mental Health Needs through Medicaid and CHIP So Children Can Thrive (PDF | 346 KB) 

Urban Institue. (2011). Meeting parents' health and mental health needs through Medicaid and CHIP so children can thrive. Golden, O. and Fortuny, K.