| Objective | Action Item (Strategy) | Who’s Responsible | Completion Date | Progress Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Determine and implement desired MHC. | Get training on capacity-building approaches for early childhood MHC. | Management team | ||
| Gather input from staff on mental health consultant needs. | Strategic planning group | |||
| Develop mental health mission statement. | Strategic planning group | |||
| 2. Develop additional resources for direct mental health services to children who may need to see a mental health provider. | Identify community agencies that provide mental health treatment. | Mental health manager, administrator | ||
| Write grants for more direct mental health services for children. | Administrator, possibly in collaboration with community mental health partners | |||
| Consider having an intern from a local university mental health program or other agency provide services. | Mental health manager, consultant | |||
| 3. Acquire capacity to provide space for confidential mental health meetings with families. | Identify available space for confidential meetings. | Center managers | ||
| Provide “do not disturb” signs at each location. | Center managers | |||
| Consider white noise machines for privacy, if needed. | Center managers | |||
| 4. Increase family access to mental health services in more rural areas. | Work with partners to provide on-site adult mental health services at Head Start locations. | Mental health manager, administrator | ||
| Hold initial meeting with community mental health partners; schedule a follow-up meeting. | Mental health manager, administrator | |||
| 5. Maximize mental health consultant support to staff. | Prioritize mental health consultant time in classrooms. | Mental health consultant, administrator | ||
| Develop ways to facilitate staff-consultant communication to make the most of mental health consultant visits. | Mental health consultant, education coordinator | |||
| Improve response time of mental health consultant to requests for help. | Mental health consultant, education coordinator | |||
| Hold more staff trainings by mental health consultant; include drivers in trainings. | Management team, mental health consultant | |||
| Provide ongoing clarification of the role of the mental health consultant. | Management team, mental health consultant | |||
| 6. Maximize staff peer support and exchange of ideas. | Use increased supervision time to discuss mental health issues of families and children. | Center managers | ||
| Dedicate time for case consultation on teacher and family advocate training days. | Education coordinator, family services coordinator, mental health consultant | |||
| 7. Help families better understand children’s mental health issues. | Offer at least two family classes or support groups annually focused on mental health-related topics. | Family services coordinator | ||
| Have mental health consultant do family training on mental health issues annually. | Administrator, mental health consultant | |||
| Offer stress reduction strategies and support groups for families. | Management team | |||
| 8. Increase the ability of mental health services to reflect families from different backgrounds. | Seek out external trainer to provide training on mental health issues for Hispanic families. | Mental health manager | ||
| Refine model for supporting mental health consultant to work effectively with non-English-speaking families. | Bilingual staff, mental health manager, mental health consultant | |||
| 9. Create more within-program resources for mental health. | Organize on-site literature so that it is more accessible to staff (an “approved” bibliography). | Identify a student intern or volunteers to do this. | ||
| Have materials or brochures available at each site for FAQs (bedwetting, nail-biting, thumb-sucking, autism, bullying, etc.). | Contact community partners for materials. | |||
| Make sure materials (above) are translated into needed languages. | Family services manager |
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Resource Type: Article
National Centers: Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety
Audience: Directors and Managers
Last Updated: August 6, 2025