Federal Agencies' Initiatives
The US Departments of Health and Human Services and Education are the major governmental agencies, each with number of departments or bureaus, that impact young children with behavioral/mental health issues or address social and emotional development. These agencies provide funding for direct services, support research and training, and promote a number of special initiatives.
US Department of Education (ED)
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Head Start Bureau and
Child Care Bureau initiatives Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)
The Head Start Bureau and the Office of Planning, Research
and Evaluation announced the award of five cooperative agreements
in September 2002 as part of the Early Promotion and Intervention
Research Consortium (E-PIRC). These four-year grants fund
partnerships
between academic researchers and Early Head Start programs designed to develop
and test approaches to supporting the mental health of infants and toddlers and
their families within the Early Head Start program.
Provides links to resources, training materials, state
contacts, curriculum and family information.
The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) is a national clearinghouse and technical assistance
center linking parents, providers, policy-makers, researchers, and the public to early care and education
information. This site provides and overview of resources (publications and organizations) available on line
from a variety of sources and links to other organizations with focus on
mental health.
The Child Care Bulletin Spring 2002 issue called "Promoting Mental
Health through Child Care and Mental Health Linkages" is available
on line.
The campaign helps families, educators, health care providers, and
young people recognize mental health problems and to seek or recommend
appropriate services.
The Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health (TA Partnership) operates
under contract with the federal Center for Mental Health Services to provide technical assistance
to system of care communities funded by the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for
Children and Families Program. TA Consultants are available to help communities build systems of
care including schools, community mental health centers, psychiatric treatment programs, social
service organizations, juvenile justice programs, and primary health care organizations so that
services can effectively address the needs of these children while allowing them to remain in
their communities.
NIMH provides descriptions of mental health conditions and disorders affecting
children and youth, provides treatment options including medications and
provides information on current research studies including medical studies for
treatment of mental health conditions.
Several of the most significant programs impacting young children with mental
health/social and emotional developmental concerns within the Maternal and
Child Health Bureau include:
Title V of the Social Security Act is one of the largest Federal block grant programs.
It leads the nation in ensuring the health of all mothers, infants, children,
adolescents, and children with special health care needs including children who
have or are at risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional
conditions. For more details explaining all Title V programs in CSHCN see Understanding
Title V.
(PDF: 1,501kb)
The Bright Futures initiative is a collaboration between MCHB with the
American Academy of Pediatrics. Bright Futures Guidelines seeks to improve
health promotion and preventive services including those for children with
social emotional problems. "Bright Futures in Practice: Mental Health (2002)"
is a two-volume set considering the mental health of children in a
developmental context, presenting information on early recognition and
intervention for specific mental health problems and mental disorders, and
providing a tool kit with hands-on tools for health professionals and families
for use in screening, care management, and health education.
