In 2004 Evelyn Blanck, Associate Executive Director of New York Center for Child Development and director of its mental health program, convened a group of experts to form the New York City Early Childhood Mental Health Strategic Workgroup, as an advisory committee to the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene. Members include experts from the fields of early intervention, mental health, preschool special education, child care, foster care, and the judicial and academic systems. The workgroup found that governmental systems were not currently meeting the social emotional needs of New York City's youngest children and their families despite compelling scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of mental health treatment for young children. The workgroup developed an action plan to address the mental health needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families, and produced a report entitled Promoting the Mental Health and Healthy Development of New York's Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers: A Call to Action. This paper documented the latest research on early childhood mental health and identified opportunities to build on and integrate the existing early childhood service structure and fill in crucial gaps. To read the full report Click Here.

As a result of the work of this group and others working to achieve the similar policy objectives significant improvements have taken place in the availability of mental health services for young children in New York State. The Workgroup is in the process of preparing an updated report to review the progress and set forth an expanded agenda for early childhood mental health services.

“Our goal is to change practice and policy by influencing government to shape existing services and provide new services for young children and families which will result in the best outcomes for children, families and society.”

Evelyn J. Blanck
Associate Executive Director,
New York Center for Child Development