Implementing and Evaluating an Evidence-Based Approach for Preventative Early Childhood Mental Health Services

The social emotional well-being of children under the age of five is a critical aspect of their school readiness. The DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) recently completed their fourth year of implementing an... [ view full abstract ]

The social emotional well-being of children under the age of five is a critical aspect of their school readiness. The DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) recently completed their fourth year of implementing an evidence-informed early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) project in 25 community-based child development centers (CDCs). The project is based largely upon a model developed by the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (Cohen & Kaufmann, 2005; Duran, et al., 2009). In this model four full-time, licensed mental health professionals provide on-site mental health consultation services aimed at building the capacity of directors and staff at CDCs to promote positive social-emotional development, reduce challenging behaviors and make appropriate referrals for speciality mental health services, when indicated.
An evaluation of the project was contracted by the DC DBH with a university researcher who specializes in community-based participatory research. Working with the DBH internal evaluator, data were gathered from the consultants, child care directors and teachers who received ECMHC in the CDCs. Additional data were collected from the teachers and parents of children who were referred for child-specific consultation. Satisfaction data were also collected from the CDC directors annually. Over the four years, the evaluation data have consistently demonstrated a broad array of positive impacts; and these data contributed to the sustainability of the program after a federal grant ended using local dollars.
This session will present the elements of one diverse urban jurisdiction’s approach to operationalizing a mental health system of care for young children and their families. Presenters will highlight the successful elements of their efforts to build a continuum of preventive services and linkages to appropriate interventions for children with challenging behaviors. Data from the evaluation will be shared as well as lessons learned for others doing similar work across the globe.