Research shows that mental health policies and programs for young children grounded in evidence-based practices, such as early screenings, consultation services, and dyadic treatment, can help support early childhood development and well-being.
This fall, the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Bank Street Graduate School of Education published eight new profiles as part of the PRiSM Project, an online resource that documents and shares research-informed state policies and initiatives designed to support the mental health of children from birth to age 5 in different settings and systems, including home visiting, pediatric settings, early care and education, child welfare, and early intervention. The latest profiles highlight effective strategies from California, Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, and Texas.
The project aims to help early childhood policymakers, advocates, and other leaders access information that can inform the design and implementation of stronger infant-early childhood mental health policies and family support systems. Examples of initiatives described in PRiSM include state investments in scaled professional development using an evidence-based model to strengthen supports for young children’s social-emotional growth in early care and education programs; a scaled program that provides parent coaching to promote nurturing parent-child relationships coupled with assistance to help families meet basic needs; and integration of mental health supports in pediatric settings and home visiting.
Launched in 2019, the project is continually updated to provide access to the latest research-informed policies and initiatives that foster long-term, positive change.
“We created the PRiSM Project to empower policymakers and advocates with research-backed strategies that address the mental health needs of infants and young children during this critical stage in early development,” said Daniel Ferguson, Senior Policy Analyst, NCCP. “By sharing exemplary state policies and initiatives that draw on sustainable approaches, we hope to advance effective mental health practices and improve outcomes for children and families nationwide.”
Highlights from the latest profiles include:
- In California, Medicaid is now supporting infant and early childhood mental health through dyadic behavioral health well-child visits, including the use of HealthySteps and DULCE models
- The ECHO and Family Center Early Childhood Council in Fremont County, Colorado is implementing community-wide social-emotional and risk factor screening and response
- In Kansas, an initiative to deliver Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC) in home visiting, Part C Early Intervention, and other settings is helping to expand social-emotional support for young children
- Massachusetts statewide training and support for Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-5) is helping more professionals better understand and address the mental health needs of infants and young children
- Community-based family navigators in Minneapolis and Cook County in Minnesota are helping address critical needs and connect families to community services and supports
- In New York, the PlayReadVIP intervention, designed for use in pediatric settings, is supporting responsive parenting, early relational health, and infant and early childhood mental health
- The Healthy Social Behaviors Project in North Carolina is helping child care centers address challenging behaviors and support social-emotional development for all children
- A Texas pilot program offering infant and early childhood mental health consultation to Part C Early Intervention providers supported young children’s healthy development