US: ACF Announces New Resources Focused on Behavioral Health Integration in Early Childhood Programs (Press release)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families – May 10, 2024
On National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new policy guidance and resources to expand access to legal representation for children who are eligible for title IV-E foster care, their parents, kinship caregivers, Indian custodians and tribe by allowing state and tribal child welfare agencies to use federal funds to provide legal representation. These materials support President Biden’s Unity Agenda priority to tackle the mental health crisis and are in line with his strategy for transforming mental health in the United States. “We are doing everything we can to support our nation’s children, their families, and early educators during the critical early years of development,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We know healthy social and emotional development in early childhood forms the foundation for lifelong mental health., These new resources will help early childhood programs to partner with families to create healthy and nurturing learning environments and prepare all children for success in school and life.”