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Mental Health

Mental Health Consultation in Your Program

Mental health consultation (MHC) is an evidence-based approach that pairs mental health professionals with people who work with young children and their families. Explore these resources to learn about MHC and how to choose and use a consultant and to deliver effective MHC services. You can also explore resources from the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and learn more.

Two women bending down to tend to a child.

Mental Health Consultation

Explore these resources to learn about MHC, including how to choose and use a consultant and deliver effective MHC services.
Women meeting in person, sitting a meeting room table.

Implementing Effective Mental Health Consultation Toolkit

This toolkit helps Head Start administrators develop and implement a multidisciplinary approach to mental health and mental health consultation.
Child playing on colored shapes.

Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

The Center of Excellence advances the field of infant and early childhood mental health consultation through training, technical assistance, and resource development.
Woman holding a baby and sitting next to another.

Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Competencies

These competencies represent a national consensus on the knowledge and array of foundational skills and abilities needed to become a competent IECMH consultant.
Smiling mother and father holding up their infant child.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation National Office Hours

This series of national office hours highlights components of successful IECMHC in Head Start programs. Join this forum each month to ask questions about IECMHC.
Abstract blue, green and yellow depiction of two parents and child.

MyPeers Mental Health Consultation Community

This online peer learning community supports Head Start leaders and related personnel (e.g., training and technical assistance staff, mental health consultants, policy makers). Join the group and share resources, network, and find support to enhance mental health consultation services.

Read more:

HeadStart.gov

official website of the Administration for Children and Families

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