The Healey-Driscoll Administration in Massachusetts has put cash where their concerns are, rolling out $5 million in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grants. According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ press release today, these grants are targeted to buttress the mental health infrastructure for the state’s youngest, aiming to reduce suspension and expulsion rates in early education and foster community health and school success.
“We have a mental health crisis that has only been made worse by the pandemic, particularly for our youngest kids,” Governor Maura Healey stated, underscoring the urgency to swiftly provide resources to help educators flag and families to address the early signs of distress. These funds are set to be dispersed among six organizations dedicated to training providers and enhancing early education program protocols to bolster infant and young children’s social-emotional and behavioral well-being. Evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care are on the menu, set to empower educators to better identify and support kids grappling with or at-risk for mental health challenges.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll highlighted the role of early education and care programs as the bedrock for lifelong mental health. And with this financial backing, “our early educators can access the resources they need to help young children learn about and manage their feelings,” Lieutenant Governor Driscoll explained, weaving a narrative of nurturing through educational provisions…