The LAUNCH Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health The purpose of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth …/MYCHILD model is an integrated care model developed by the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and seven pilot implementation partner agencies and 6 expansion partner sites with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The model is based within the medical home and designed to improve the social emotional wellness of young children, including infants, and their families. A family partner and mental health clinician work together with families in the primary care setting to identify goals for their children, support them with skills and resources, and empower them to use their own skills and knowledge as caregivers, to work towards their identified goals.
Integrated care models are particularly beneficial for very young children, considering the frequency with which infants are seen in the primary care setting, the importance of early identification and intervention for a range of concerns, including developmental delay and behavioral difficulties, and the positive association families tend to have with primary care providers.
In this model, families are referred for services by the primary care provider or self-refer. Services are provided in the primary care setting or at a location convenient for the family. After the initial referral, families participate in a thorough engagement and assessment process, to identify strengths and discuss potential areas of need and growth for the family. The assessment helps shape a Care Plan, using a multi-generational approach to identify and work toward meeting goals for optimal social emotional wellness of the young child and family. The family partner and mental health clinician partner with caregivers in services to identify skills and resources within themselves and their communities to achieve their goals.
Enhancing Early Childhood Mental Health Primary Care Services: Evaluation of MA Project LAUNCH Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health The purpose of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth …
Beth E. Molnar, Kristin E. Lees, Kate Roper, Natasha Byars, Larisa Méndez-Peñate, Christy Moulin, William McMullen, Jessica Wolfe & Deborah Allen
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10995-018-2548-4
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative early childhood mental health intervention, Massachusetts Project LAUNCH Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health The purpose of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth …. Early childhood mental health clinicians and family partners (paraprofessionals with lived experience) were embedded within community pediatric medical homes. Methods A longitudinal study design was used to test the hypotheses that (1) children who received services would experience decreased social, emotional and behavioral problems over time and (2) caregivers’ stress and depressive symptoms would decrease over time. Families who were enrolled in services and who consented to participate in the evaluation study were included in analyses (N = 225). Individual growth models were used to test longitudinal effects among MA LAUNCH Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health The purpose of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth … participants (children and caregivers) over three time points using screening tools. Results Analyses showed that LAUNCH Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health The purpose of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth … children who scored in age-specific clinically significant ranges of social, emotional and behavioral problems at Time 1 scored in the normal range on average by Time 3. Caregivers’ stress and depressive symptoms also declined across the three time points. Results support hypotheses that the LAUNCH Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health The purpose of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth … intervention improved social and emotional health for children and caregivers. Conclusions for Practice This study led to sustainability efforts, an expansion of the model to three additional communities across the state and development of an online toolkit for other communities interested in implementation.
Engaging and Supporting Young Children and their Families in Early Childhood Mental Health Services: The Role of the Family Partner
Sameera S. Nayak, Carol Tobias, Jessica Wolfe, Kate Roper, Larisa Méndez-Peñate, Christy Moulin, Malika Arty, Arielle A. J. Scoglio, Amy Kelleher, Jacqueline Rue, Molly Brigham, Tarsha Bradshaw, Natasha Byars, Angelina Camacho, Sade Douglas & Beth E. Molnar
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10597-021-00796-8
Abstract
This study explores the role of family partners, peer professionals with lived experiences of raising a child with behavioral health needs, and their value in primary and community-care based mental health services for young children aged 0–8 years. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with staff, leadership, and caregiver participants (n = 38) from two early childhood mental health programs and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Five interdependent themes emerged:
(1) the centrality of lived experience to the family partner role;
(2) the importance of the family partner in family engagement and relationship building;
(3) the value added by the family partner in navigating systems;
(4) the ability of the family partner to build skills
and empower caregivers;
(5) the role of the family partner in alleviating caregiver stress and other mental health concerns.
Adapting and expanding the role of family partners will improve effective mental health care for children and their caregivers.
The LAUNCH Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health The purpose of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth …/MYCHILD model is an integrated care model developed by the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and seven pilot implementation partner agencies and 6 expansion partner sites with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The model is based within the medical home and designed to improve the social emotional wellness of young children, including infants, and their families. A family partner and mental health clinician work together with families in the primary care setting to identify goals for their children, support them with skills and resources, and empower them to use their own skills and knowledge as caregivers, to work towards their identified goals.
Integrated care models are particularly beneficial for very young children, considering the frequency with which infants are seen in the primary care setting, the importance of early identification and intervention for a range of concerns, including developmental delay and behavioral difficulties, and the positive association families tend to have with primary care providers.
In this model, families are referred for services by the primary care provider or self-refer. Services are provided in the primary care setting or at a location convenient for the family. After the initial referral, families participate in a thorough engagement and assessment process, to identify strengths and discuss potential areas of need and growth for the family. The assessment helps shape a Care Plan, using a multi-generational approach to identify and work toward meeting goals for optimal social emotional wellness of the young child and family. The family partner and mental health clinician partner with caregivers in services to identify skills and resources within themselves and their communities to achieve their goals.
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