Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health

An overview of Project LAUNCH Goals and Strategies

Framing the Issue• Children need a safe, supportive environment to grow

and learn• Health disparities are addressed by creating a shared

vision among community members• Mental health is now at the forefront when talking

about early childhood development

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To learn more visit:

http://www.healthysafechildren.org/content/project-launch

Project LAUNCH

Funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Five-year grants to states, tribes, territories and local communities

Long-term goal: For all children to reach social, emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive milestones – to thrive in school and beyond

Population of focus: Children from birth to 8c

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…Using Three Guiding Principles

• Wellness means thriving in all developmental domains

Holistic Perspective

• Wellness for the whole population; emphasizes prevention and promotion

Public Health Approach

• Wellness requires children to be living in safe, supportive homes, schools and communities

Ecological Framework

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Putting Objectives into Action

• Address children/families at risk before problems emerge and build on strengths to promote resilience

• Measure well-defined outcomes for children and families

Evidence-based prevention and

promotion activities

• Ensure that all community members share a common knowledge of social/emotional development and a common vision for child wellness and quality services

Cross-training; workforce development;

communications

• Partnerships across the federal, state/tribal/territorial and local levels

• Resources are shared, used efficiently, and aligned with LAUNCH strategic plans

Cross sector collaboration and

systems integration

• Include families as partners and leaders• Value the cultural and linguistic richness and diversity within communities

Family-centered and culturally competent

practices

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Prevention and Promotion Strategies

Each grantee implements or expands evidence-based programs and practices in five key areas:

Screening and assessment in a range of child-

serving settings

Integration of behavioral health into primary care

Mental health consultation in early care and education

Enhanced home visiting through

focus on social and emotional well-being

Family strengthening and

parent skills training

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Alabama Project LAUNCH

• Grant awarded to Alabama Department of Mental Health, with key partner Alabama Department of Public Health (first time Alabama has applied for the grant)

• Five year grant $647,911 (year 1) to $778,851 (year 5)

• Contracts with:

Alabama Partnership for Children

Support for YCW Partner at Department of Public Health

University of Alabama – project evaluation

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ImpactOutcomesOutputsComponentsResources

State BlueprintECCS Plan,

statewide agency for birth to five

coordination and implementation,

APC

Ready Families100 families in

expanded/enhanced, evidence-based HV

22 parents in SF /SSC model of parent

engagement and PL Network

+ Ready Communities

+Ready Services: Health

Help Me Grow – 300 screenings, referrals, care coordination for 100, service provider outreach to 10+, data

+Ready Services: Early Education

+Ready Schools

+Ready StateYCW Council

= Ready Children Prepared for Success

*Blueprint adapted from the National School Readiness

Indicators Initiative

Alabama Project LAUNCH Logic Model

ECCS, ECAC, CPC and HV Planning – state

agency partners

National Partners: CSSP/SF, HMG, SHLI/SSC, 0-3, Home Visiting, LAUNCH

State Partners: AAP, Depts. of Ed, HR, CA, CTF, OSR, EI/ADRS, ASRA, Medicaid, ANFRC, Governor’s Office

Prof Dev & resources on screenings, ECMH, brain development

ECMH support and consultation in early education settings

Coordinated leadership for policy, advocacy,

funding & accountability

AL Dept. of Mental Health and Public Health Leadership

Enhanced Home Visiting

Family Strengthening & Parenting Skills

Screening and Assessment Integration of M/B Health

Mental Health Consultation

K Transition Teams, KEA, data

+Training & resources for

screening & referrals, ECMH, family strengthening, coordination

+Parents served in more appropriate

programs & participate as leaders

+Screening, earlier & with more

appropriate referrals

Improved family mental and

behavioral health

Improved school outcomes & 3rd grade reading

Parents engaged in policy and

programs

Healthy, ready children prepared

for success

+Attention to ECMH in health care, early childhood & schools

+Access to ECMH consultation across all

programs

+K Transition Team & effective plan

community-wide

Ongoing state and local mechanism for sustained oversight,

evaluation, and priorities for early childhood mental

health and wellness

Gaps in child health outcomes

reduced

ECMH is a state priority

ImpactOutcomesOutputsComponentsResources

Child Dev. Resources/UA local partner

Enhanced Home Visiting

20 new families in Baby Talk, training on ECMH and

HMG for 6 HV programs

SF and SSC model (22 families), PL (4), Parenting

Kit to 2,000 parents, 60 parents in Parent Cafes

Family Strengthening

Parenting Skills and Leadership HMG West AL: screening,

outreach, care coordination for 100 children, 300

screened, AAP/ROR/screening in 4

practicesScreening and

Assessment

Integration of Behavioral Health

Mental Health Consultation

YCW Council planning, project development

Alabama Project LAUNCH Local Logic Model

Support from Project Staff, SYCWC,

Blueprint and state HMG, SF, HV, AAP

Local Partners: Tuscaloosa One Place, United Way

Easter Seals, EI providers (AIDB, CSPWA), child care, Head Start, public schools, mental health, ROR & pediatricians

ECMH support/professional development for 10

programs, 100 children in BBB events

Coordinated leadership for policy, advocacy, funding

& accountability, 40 participate in local summit

AL Dept. of Mental Health and Public Health Leadership

15 partners participate in K Transition Teams, and 4 implement KEA

+Training & resources for

screening & referrals, ECMH, family strengthening coordination

+Parents served in more appropriate

programs & parents participate as leaders

+Screening, earlier & with more

appropriate referrals

Improved family mental and

behavioral health

Improved school outcomes & 3rd grade reading

Parents engaged in policy and

programs

Healthy, ready children prepared

for success

+ Attention to ECMH in health care, ECE

programs & schools

+Access to ECMH consultation across all

programs+ 15 in K Transition

Team & community-wide plan and

assessment

+Ongoing local mechanism for

sustained oversight, evaluation, and

priorities for early childhood mental

health and wellness

Gaps in child health outcomes

reduced

ECMH is a community

priority

10 partners (2 parents) on YCWC develop

environmental scan, str plan & priority needs

Comm. awareness & education on ECMH

Through Alabama Partnership for Children and Sub-Contractors:

• University of Alabama, Child Development Resources, local partner to coordinate local LAUNCH activities including (2) LAUNCH staff

• Alabama Chapter of AAP/ROR – to support physician outreach, increased screenings, Reach Out and Read

• Help Me Grow Alabama – support for Help Me Grow expansion, technical assistance, database development

• Strengthening Families – includes professional development to HV and SSC model of parent engagement

• School Readiness – support for Kindergarten Transition Team including Kindergarten Readiness Assessment

• Young Child Wellness Expert (main project staff for state activities) at Alabama Partnership for Children

Councils on Young Child Wellness

1. Unite stakeholders at state, territory, tribal, and local levels, across the child-serving systems to create a shared vision of young child wellness

2. Bring together providers, parents, and other stakeholders to plan and oversee local implementation

3. Conduct an environmental scan to map existing resources, unmet needs, and areas for collaboration

4. Develop a strategic plan to prioritize goals and objectives, timelines, and benchmarks for success

5. Help ensure that programs address behavioral health disparities through strategic planning and implementation

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Grantees

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