CLICK HERE to listen to the NCSL audioconference - " Developing Mental Health Systems for Children " - that took place in February 2002. (RealPlayer required)

This audioconference focused on legislative options to develop state and community policy strategies that address mental health services for young children. Improving access to treatment and services for children with mental health needs has become a top priority for many states. This audioconference focused on state and local mental health services for one particular group of children - infants through age six. Potential links between mental health and child care coordination - which include incorporating mental health consultants and home visitation into early childhood settings such as child care and Head Start sites - have surfaced as one way to meet the mental health needs of younger children. Speakers highlighted several of these strategies - as well as resources that exist - to improve access to systems of care.

Dr. Jane Knitzer, deputy director of the National Center for Children in Poverty, provided an overview of the early childhood-mental health linkages that promote healthy early childhood development. She also discussed state and local efforts to build services and systems that support the healthy emotional development of young children.

Dr. Rolando Santiago, acting deputy chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch at the Centers for Mental Health Systems profiled federal, state and community partnerships to improve access and delivery of mental health services to young children.

Indiana state Senator Steve Johnson and Indiana state Representative Susan Crosby, co-chairs of the Mental Health Commission in Indiana, were scheduled to speak at the audioconference, but were unable to attend due to pressing legislative business that day.

Information from the audioconference is available on-line (links are listed below). Audioconference tapes will be available by April 2002 for $5.00. If you are interested in ordering a tape, please contact Greg Martin at greg.martin@ncsl.org.

Audioconference Links

Building Services and Systems to Support the Healthy Emotional Development of Young Children: An Action Guide for Policymakers by Jane Knitzer, National Center for Children in Poverty

CMHS Information

Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program: A Fact Sheet

 Mental Health Services for Children: An Overview (June 2002) a collaborative issue brief produced with the support of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation under a grant for the Children's Policy Initiative and with additional funding from the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

The audioconference was sponsored by The Children's Policy Initiative, a new NCSL project funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, with additional funding from the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Participating NCSL programs include the Child Care Project, Forum for State Health Policy Leadership and Health Care Program.