Children’s Mental Health

A major determinant of outcomes for children, youth, and their families is their mental health. Low-income children, youth, and their families are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges, impairing the ability of children and youth to succeed in school and placing them at risk of involvement with child welfare and juvenile justice agencies.

The evidence base for effective treatment is growing. Many successful strategies occur in schools and other settings where children and youth spend most of their time. They also involve integrated approaches across various child-serving sectors. Family-focused prevention and early intervention can help the youngest children. Additionally, research demonstrates the effectiveness of strategies that engage families.

However, public policy and funding practices are often out of sync with emerging knowledge. NCCP’s Unclaimed Children Revisited Project works to improve the policy context for children’s mental health.

Publications

• Building Strong Systems of Support for Young Children’s Mental Health
  Key Strategies for States and a Planning Tool
  Report, June 2011
• Racial Gaps in Early Childhood
  Socio-emotional Health, Developmental, and Educational Outcomes Among African-American Boys
  Report, May 2011
• State-level Indicators for Social-emotional Development
  Building Better Systems
  Report, February 2011
• Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Young Children in the Child Welfare System
  What Every Policymaker Should Know
  Report, September 2010
• Promoting the Social-emotional Wellbeing of Infants and Toddlers in Early Intervention Programs
  Promising Strategies in Four Communities
  Report, June 2010