BOH agenda 111815 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Executive Summary 15Growing Up Well: Supporting Young Children’s Social-Emotional Development and Mental Health in North Carolina The following provides a summary of the recommendations from the Task Force on the Mental Health, Social, and Emotional Needs of Young Children and Their Families. The summary recommendations are numbered and correspond to the chapter where they are discussed in more detail. Priority recommendations are noted. Creating a More Coordinated, Integrated System to Meet the Social-Emotional and Mental Health Needs of Young Children and Their Families The Task Force recognized the need for a more comprehensive, coordinated, and cohesive infrastructure and system to meet the health needs of young children and their families. Furthermore, the Task Force recognized that we are more likely to experience positive results if we implement evidence-based strategies and services to positively influence young children’s social-emotional development and meet young children’s mental health needs. Evidence-based interventions aimed at improving the social-emotional and mental health of young children often have a positive impact on a wide range of child outcomes. Data is needed to measure young children’s social-emotional and mental health needs, identify gaps in services, and monitor the effectiveness of interventions. With better coordination and collaboration, a solid infrastructure, data, and the strategic use of evidence-based strategies, we can meet the social-emotional and mental health needs of young children and their families. Recommendation 2.1: Operationalize a Comprehensive, Coordinated System for Young Children’s Mental Health The North Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) should operationalize a cross-systems plan which includes all North Carolina agencies that fund and serve the physical, social-emotional, and mental health needs of young children and their families. Recommendation 5.3: Coordinate Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention Services for Young Children with Mental Health Needs (PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION) The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMH/DD/SAS), Division of Medical Assistance (DMA), Division of Public Health (DPH), Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC), Care Coordination for Children (CC4C), Children’s Developmental Services Agencies (CDSAs), and Local Management Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) should examine the current system of care for children ages 0-5 to ensure children at risk of or those with already identified