Fund it and sustain it
Here's our financing guidance and sustainability playbook. It covers braided funding, champions and partnerships, messaging, policy integration, and adapting when the political weather changes.
What's in this collection
Financing and sustaining infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) services is a critical, yet daunting task. In addition, this section provides access to information on funding streams and proven strategies as well as other pathways to sustainability.
IECMHC and the early childhood system
Overview of the IECMHC Approach within the Early Childhood System: This resource provides an overview of how IECMHC fits within a larger early childhood system. It offers information on the different components of an integrated IECMHC approach and identifies important strategic partners.
Financing IECMHC efforts
Financing Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation: Frequently Asked Questions: This brief answers some frequently asked questions about funding for infant and early childhood mental health consultation, which can be a complex and thorny issue.
Financing Guidance for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation: This brief provides a deeper look into funding streams that states, tribes, and communities might access to support IECMHC services.
Sustainability
IECMHC Sustainability Modules: These modules examine six pillars of sustainability for IECMHC programs. Each module provides context, proven strategies, success stories, and potential obstacles to consider when developing a sustainability plan.
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BriefIllinois’s Approach to Building and Sustaining Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health ConsultationThis brief shows how Illinois has used multiple funding sources and statewide partnerships to build IECMHC into many early childhood systems. Lessons learned and action steps are provided. Interactive toolInfant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Cost CalculatorThis tool, from ZERO TO THREE, is designed to help mental health professionals, early childhood educators, program leaders and policymakers plan and budget for mental health consultation services. The resource offers customizable cost estimates, scenario planning, and better collaboration. The IECMHC Cost Calculator helps professionals plan effectively and ensure that program resources are directed to where they are needed most. Webinars and eventsLinking IECMHC with Mental Health Professional Development and Why it MattersJoin me as I explore how training as a mental health professional supports the work of an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. What clinical skills are used in the everyday work of an IECMHC? How does clinical training inform the IECMHC in conceptualizing each unique situation and forming next steps? Does an IECMHC need to be trained as a mental health professional to do this work? I invite you to reflect with me as the need for IECMHCs continues to increase, yet the availability of viable candidates remains a challenge. BriefMaryland’s Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Fiscal Year 2020 Brief Webinars and eventsOpportunities to Expand IECMH Consultation through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) GuideOverview of the IECMHC Approach within the Early Childhood System Webinars and eventsPresentation: Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation: Advancing the Evidence BasePanel presentation at the National Research Conference on Early Childhood 2022. The presentation is moderated by Dr. Deborah Perry, Director of Research & Evaluation at GUCCHD, and features research findings from Arkansas, Louisiana, and New York City. GuideRace Matters Toolkit User’s Guide Webinars and eventsRaising Awareness in IECMHC with an Equity LensThe presentations foundation is derived from Dr. Katherine M. Zinsser’s' research on Illinois preschool suspension and expulsion. In the research, of the Early Childhood professionals and providers that have expelled young children, "Nearly 40% had never heard of IECMHC and made at least one expulsion during that same year". The Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development used Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds to create content for a multimedia, multilingual awareness campaign. This raising awareness campaign efforts focused on the diverse audiences including, Family Child Care Homes, program leaders, Head Start/Early Head start, administrators, parents/families/caregivers, state leaders, higher education and IECMH consultants. This raising awareness campaign consist of new resources that provide key information for Consultation in Infant and Early Childhood Education and Care programs. These concise and informative one-pagers (16 in total) and videos are available in multiple languages and tailored for specific audiences. Whether you are a leader or administrator of home visiting, preschool, and center-based child care programs, the parent or a family member of children in need of services, a stakeholder in childhood education and care, or someone who is looking to begin a fulfilling new career. This session will describe efforts to engage cross-system partners such as Early Intervention, Head Start/Early Head Start, Home visitors, child care, and our state board of education programs-prevention initiatives, preschool for all and preschool for all expansion. Equity is at the forefront of project from the multilingual and diverse audiences which considers multiple perspectives. Intentional efforts and cross-sector stakeholders were used to design and develop the one-pagers and videos, which takes into consideration provider representation, diverse family structures and how providers saw themselves in the videos. We were able to partner with families, providers, etc. to ensure their voices and experiences informed the design and implementation of the Raising awareness materials. Ensured equitable access and distribution of resources. TemplateSample Needs AssessmentA needs assessment with stakeholders is an essential first step in designing an IECMHC program. This resource gives an overview and a template of the data you need to collect for an IECMHC needs assessment. Webinars and eventsWebinar: Infant and Early Childhood Consultation MessagingInfant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) builds the capacity of child-serving systems to positively impact young children and their families’ long-term mental health outcomes. It is important to describe to stakeholders what IECMHC is and its benefits. When stakeholders are aware of IECMHC’s value in supporting mental health outcomes for young children and families, they can help expand, integrate, and sustain IECMHC broadly in child-serving systems. Presenters Kim Eithun, Linda Delimata, and Dawn Yazzie explain key IECMHC messaging concepts, how to create effective messages for stakeholders, and how to use the IECMHC infographic to explain what IECMHC is and how it's applied. ReportWhat Works? A Study of Effective Early Childhood Mental Health ProgramsThis seminal reports summarizes the results of a mixed methods study that focused on six effective IECMHC programs in early care and education settings. A conceptual framework was developed which continues to influence the design of IECMHC programs nationally.