New York Advances Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Policy, Practice, and Workforce Development

During the August 2015 closing session of the learning community, participants from New York shared their accomplishments. Highlights include:

• Launched a strategic plan to build a mental health system that is being coordinated by the Early Childhood Advisory Council.
• Received a grant to plan for implementing the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health Endorsement® system and organized an advisory group to help develop competencies so there will be uniformity in workforce expectations.
• Initiated the planning phase for implementing the Pyramid Model, an evidence-based framework proven to be an effective approach to building social and emotional competence in early childhood settings. Included will be a cadre of master trainers who can support use of the CSEFEL (Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning) Pyramid Model in a variety of child serving programs.
• Worked with state administrators and early childhood providers to develop strategies that support children’s social-emotional development in an effort to reduce expulsion rates in early care and learning programs. This process also informed New York’s Child Care and Development Fund application.
• Established guidance on evidence-based practices for addressing the social-emotional development of very young children (sponsored by the Early Childhood Advisory Council and the Early Intervention Coordinating Council).
• Supported the provision of evidence-based services for children experiencing social-emotional development and mental health issues through the redesign of New York’s Medicaid Program.