Early Childhood Mental Health Services: Four State Case Studies

The following Project Forum document was recently prepared under Federal Cooperative Agreement H326F050001:

    • Early Childhood Mental Health Services: Four State Case Studies

Click here to link to the document:  
http://projectforum.org/docs/EarlyChildhoodMentalHealthServices-FourStateCaseStudies.pdf>

This in-depth policy analysis provides a background of the early childhood mental health (ECMH) focus of many organizations and legal elements of why it is essential that children with disabilities be included in a comprehensive mental health system. Findings from interviews with four state early childhood staff (i.e., the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B section 619 and Part C staff) were conducted around select components of mental health: Connecticut – consultation; Michigan – preparation and professional development; Ohio – partnerships; and Illinois – finance. Findings include that a variety of staff at a mental health agency and staff for Part B, Section 619 and Part C share responsibilities related to ECMH. Data is also collected through a statewide ECMH partnership and some individual programs; however none of the states has developed a uniform or coordinated data system for ECMH. All states indicated a need for changes in Medicaid policy to accept coding from the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders.
Please feel free to include the above short summary in any pertinent organization’s newsletter.

Additional copies are available from NASDSE; however, there are no restrictions on copying because this document was produced with federal funds. This document is available for downloading at www.projectforum.org <http://www.projectforum.org> . Additionally, Project Forum’s site has more than 100 documents available for download. Please take a moment to visit and bookmark this site and send to others on your staff.