When one thinks of the phrase “Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health,” they may visualize a baby on a couch babbling to a therapist or wonder if infants and young children even have mental health needs. However, I/ECMH is far more powerful, comprehensive and complex.
As defined by ZERO TO THREE, I/ECMH is the developing capacity of a child from birth to age 5 to form close and secure adult and peer relationships; to experience, manage and express a full range of emotions; and to explore the environment and learn—all in the context of family, community and culture. I/ECMH is an imperative component of early childhood development, and these skills provide a foundation for all other domains of development, such as cognition, speech and language and motor skills. I/ECMH is not just focused solely on the child, but encompasses the needs and strengths of the child and the primary caregiver, and the characteristics of the caregiving relationship.
I/ECMH ranges from promotion to prevention, intervention and treatment. I/ECMH services are provided through many state agencies and by many programs in Illinois. Therefore, the “system” spans multiple areas and there isn’t really one set “place.” No one agency or person can fill all the needs of families and children, therefore it is critical that the I/ECMH system be comprehensive, coordinated and integrated, and should offer families the supports that reflect the continuum of care needed.
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In Illinois, we have made much progress over the years across this spectrum.
Yet we stand at a crossroads and a unique opportunity with the creation of the new Department of Early Childhood. Multiple pieces of the I/ECMH system will move into the new agency: Home Visiting and Doula services, Early Intervention, I/ECMH Consultation, and the Pyramid Model. Yet we do not want to create the misunderstanding that everything related to mental health for children under 5 is moving into one place. Many aspects of I/ECMH will still fall under other state agencies, such as Illinois Department of Human Services-Division of Mental Health (IDHS-DMH), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS). It is important for each player and each state agency to see and understand their role in I/ECMH and where they fall on the continuum. It is equally important for the state to have some coordination and line of sight across all the different areas.
Our Illinois Policy Agenda reflects our commitment to advancing policies that strengthen the I/ECMH system and promote access to the continuum of supports that families with young children need. Some of the strategies around I/ECMH include:
- Ensuring a coordinated, integrated and equitable system of I/ECMHC and Pyramid Model across the early childhood programs within IDEC.
- Building the capacity of mental health service providers to address I/ECMH by increasing the number of providers trained in the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-5).
- Increasing access to mental health services for families with young children through increased funding for services, including by partnering with HFS to develop a Medicaid billing guide for I/ECMH services.
- Ensure statewide lists and portals of providers accurately include resources related specifically to I/ECMH.
At Start Early, we know that the mental health needs of children and families have grown increasingly over the years and we must prioritize I/ECMH support now more than ever. I/ECMH is often misunderstood, but it is a simple concept—it is the foundation of all future development, and we all share ownership of helping our children grow.
