State Awards $5 Million to Support Mental Health Among Young Children
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced it is awarding $5 million in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grants to organizations that support the social-emotional development and behavioral health of children in early education and care programs across Massachusetts.
This funding will go to six organizations that serve early education programs by training providers and improving program processes to promote the developmental, social-emotional, and behavioral well-being of infants and young children in their care. These grants support the healthy development of the youngest students and aim to reduce the suspension and expulsion rate in early education and care settings and promote school success and community health.
“We have a mental health crisis that has only been made worse by the pandemic, particularly for our youngest kids,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “These grants will provide early education and care programs with the tools and resources needed to help educators identify those who are struggling and support families in accessing care.”
The six awardees are Behavioral Health Network Inc. ($938,956), Community Health Link Inc. ($733,492), Empower Inc. ($554,244), Justice Resource Institute Inc. ($901,840), Massachusetts Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children ($1,154,471), and Walker Inc. ($716,997).
These grantees serve and support early education and care programs in many ways, including improving policies, procedures, and practices to be trauma-informed and center the social-emotional and behavioral well-being of children; developing strategies for staff self-care; strengthening skills to identify children with or at-risk for behavioral, developmental, or mental health difficulties; and supporting the implementation of positive behavior interventions and supports using evidence-based practices.
These mental health grantees will also help early education and care programs build stronger relationships with families to support children both in the classroom and their homes, including with individualized behavior support plans for children and referrals to other community-based services.