Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary | https://www.hhs.gov/about/leadership/andrea-palm.html
On National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) unveiled new policy guidance and resources to broaden access to legal representation for children eligible for title IV-E foster care, their parents, kinship caregivers, Indian custodians, and tribes. The initiative allows state and tribal child welfare agencies to use federal funds to provide legal representation. This move aligns with President Biden’s Unity Agenda priority of addressing the mental health crisis and transforming mental health in the United States.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra stated, “We are doing everything we can to support our nation’s children, their families, and early educators during the critical early years of development.” He added that these new resources would assist early childhood programs in partnering with families to create healthy learning environments and prepare all children for success in school and life.
The new resources are specifically designed for recipients of ACF’s four early childhood funding streams—Child Care and Development Fund, Head Start program, Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five program, and Tribal Home Visiting Program. They offer a range of actionable recommendations, resources, and strategies to promote healthy child development by integrating mental and behavioral health supports into early care and education programs.
These resources align with the Biden-Harris Administration's priority to address the mental health crisis. They build upon the HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration which aims at integrating a full spectrum of behavioral health care into early childhood systems. This is done to ensure equitable access to evidence-based, culturally appropriate person-centered care. The resources also expand on recently proposed changes to the Head Start Program Performance Standards which integrate mental health into every aspect of the program.
ACF Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild commented on how vital early childhood programs like child care, Head Start, and home visiting are in fostering children's healthy development. He emphasized that supporting family well-being along with the child care and home visiting workforce is crucial to creating healthy environments for children's growth, learning, and thriving.
ACF is dedicated to integrating behavioral health services and supports into existing federal programs and resources that children, youth, and families rely on, including social services and early childhood programs. For more information about ACF’s resources and efforts, visit their website.
