Identification of Current Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Services and Points of Contact Across the U.S. and U.S. Territories.

OMB #: 0970-0531

Expiration Date: 9/30/2025

IECMHC Survey for Head Start/Early Head Start Collaborative Directors

Audience: Head Start/Early Head Start Collaborative Directors

The National Head Start Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety is partnering with the Office of Child Care (OCC) and the Office of Head Start (OHS) to clarify current infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) systems, as well as identify key points of contact in each U.S. state and territory, including tribal communities. The project team would love your feedback on this survey in order to obtain input about availability, awareness, and understanding of services, and to identify key points of contact in this area. The results and feedback from this survey will be analyzed and consolidated into a document meant to inform ACF activities, and may be incorporated into documents and presentations that are made public.

This survey is estimated to take 30 minutes or less to complete. Please remember that your participation is voluntary, and all information you provide will be kept private between ACF, OHS, and the GU Team. You will be contacted beforehand if any of this information is shared more broadly.

For the purposes of the scan, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) is defined as a prevention-based service that pairs a mental health consultant with families and adults who work with infants and young children in the different settings where they learn and grow, such as child care, preschool, and their home. The aim is to build adults’ capacity to strengthen and support the healthy social and emotional development of children – early and before intervention is needed. IECMHC improves children’s lives by supporting their social, emotional and behavioral health and development. (Center of Excellence for IECMHC, SAMHSA).

Q1: Using the definition provided above as a guide, are you aware of how IECMHC services are available for Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) programs in your state or territory?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

Add Comment Box:

Q2: Please identify which entities provide IECMHC within your state or territory. For purposes of this question, “entity” refers to the organization or agency employing an IECMH Consultant. (Check all that apply)

• State-wide or territory-wide government department 

• Regional or county government department

• Local mental health agency (non-governmental)

• Non-profit organization

• Child Care Resource and Referral agency

• Independent Contractor

• Other (Please describe in comment box)

Add Comment Box:

Q3: How are IECMHC services funded for the HS and EHS programs in your state or territory? (Check all that apply)

• State initiative funded

• Grant funded

• Funded directly by Head Start/Early Head Start contract agency

• Mental health agency

• Funded with CCDF

• Other (Please describe in Comment Box)

Add Comment Box:

Q4: How do programs identify and connect with qualified IECMH Consultants or IECMHC programs in your state or territory? (Please describe in comment box)

Add Comment Box:

Q5: Does your state or territory have an IECMHC lead contact person or agency?

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

Add Comment Box:

****Only those answering Yes to Question 5 will be prompted to answer Question 5a.

Q5a: If yes, please provide contact info.

Add Comment Box:

****Only those answering No to Question 5 will be prompted to answer Question 5a.

Q5b: If no, how do HS and EHS programs connect with IECMH Consultants? (Please describe in comment box)

Add Comment Box:

Q6: Is the mental health consultation workforce serving programs in your state or territory reflective of the population of young children and families served within the HS and EHS programs (e.g., a racial/ethnic/linguistic match)? 

• Yes

• No

• I don’t know

Add Comment Box:

Q7: If IECMHC services are not available, what other resources are available to support early learning and childcare professionals' capacity to understand and address children’s behavioral and social-emotional needs and reduce suspension rates?

• Social-emotional curriculum

• Conscious Discipline

• Teaching Pyramid model

• Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) coaching

• Trauma-Informed early childhood education practices

• Coaching on other social-emotional curricula/evidence-based practices

• Other (Please describe in comment box)

• I don’t know

Add Comment Box:

Q8: Please describe any challenges or barriers in accessing IECMHC services for your programs:

• Funding for IECMHC services

• Lack of or minimal awareness of IECMHC and benefits for HS/EHS programs

• Workforce capacity (not enough IECMH Consultants to meet need)

(Please describe in comment box)

• Systems barriers (ex. lack of time or availability to meet with IECMH consultants)

• Other (Please describe in comment box)

Add Comment Box:

Q9: Would you be willing to be contacted for a follow-up interview?

• Yes (provide name, email and title/agency)

• No

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Public Law 104-13) STATEMENT OF PUBLIC BURDEN: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 30 minutes per respondent, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB # is 0970-0531 and the expiration date is 9/30/2025. If you have any comments on this collection of information, please contact Catherine Green ([email protected]).