U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health
The purpose of this program is to promote the wellness of young children, from birth to 8 years of age, by addressing the social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral aspects of their development, as well as prepare them to thrive in school and beyond. The awards will also provide local communities or tribes resources to disseminate effective and innovative early childhood mental health practices and services. With this program, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) aims to promote resilience and emotional health for children, youth, and their families.
The Project is designed to build the capacities of adult caregivers of young children to promote healthy social and emotional development; to prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders; and to identify and address behavioral concerns before they develop into serious emotional disturbances (SED).
Project Implementation should begin as soon as possible and no later than four months after award.
Required activities:
* Conduct culturally and linguistically appropriate, validated screening, and assessments to ensure the early identification of behavioral and developmental concerns, including perinatal/maternal depression and substance misuse among parents and caregivers, including alcohol and opioid use.
* Provide family and parent training to help parents, guardians, and family caregivers provide healthy, safe, and secure environments in which young children can learn and grow.
* Develop and implement a plan to equip and train providers with the knowledge, skills, and resources to address young children’s and caregivers’ behavioral health within primary care settings, including on-site or virtual/telephonic consultation, screening, assessment, brief intervention, and/or referral to
specialty care.
* Provide mental health consultation in early care and education to ensure that child care and educational settings provide optimal learning environments for young children, and social, emotional, and behavioral concerns are identified and addressed through screening, assessment, intervention, and/or referral particularly for racial and ethnic minority families.
* Establish or enhance an existing Young Child Wellness Council (YCWC) to provide support to the project. Representation on the YCWC must include, but is not limited to, the following system partners: health, public health, behavioral health, education, childcare, Head Start, child welfare, and early intervention. Family and caregiver family members must make up at least 10 percent of the council.
* Develop and implement a plan to improve coordination and collaboration across child and family-serving systems and programs.
* Develop and implement a public awareness communications plan to promote early childhood development, mental health, and outreach through multiple modalities.
All SAMHSA recipients are required to collect and report certain data so that SAMHSA can meet its obligations under the Government Performance and Results (GPRA) Modernization Act of 2010.
SAMHSA expects recipients to use funds to implement high quality programs, practices, and policies that are recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and equity-based as a means of improving behavioral health.
Amount: An estimated $10,631,178 is available to make 13 awards of up to $800,000 per year for a project period of up to five years.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants are States and Territories; political subdivisions of States; Indian tribes, or tribal organizations; health facilities; or programs operated by or in accordance with a contract or award with the Indian Health Service; or other public or private non-profit entities.
Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=342906
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