Virginia Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) Pilot
What We Do
As part of the ECMHC program, consultants will work with early childhood teachers and families to promote young children’s healthy social-emotional development, expressing emotions, forming relationships with others, and successfully engaging in the learning environment. Children may need extra support from adults in building these skills due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Project Info
This resource was offered to programs serving children birth to five in the Greater Richmond area starting in 2021-2022 and is continued to 2022-2023 with the support of the Virginia Department of Education.
Project Status: Active
Funding Source: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
ECMHC services might be appropriate for the following concerns:
- A teacher could use extra support addressing challenging behaviors from one to a few children
- A teacher is concerned about a child’s social-emotional well-being such as possible trauma, anxious or withdrawn behavior
- A teacher is feeling stressed or burned out
- A child is being removed from the learning environment or sent home early
- A program is considering expulsion or asking the child’s family to withdraw from the program.
The ECMHC program is being offered through a new partnership between the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Infant & Toddler Specialist Network, and the University of Virginia’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning.
The Virginia Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) program can provide services to programs in the Counties of Albermarle, Chesterfields, Henrico, Hanover, Goochland, Powhatan, Charles City, New Kent, and the cities of Richmond, Charlottesville, Colonial Heights and Petersburg. Programs receiving public fund such as but not limited to: VPI, Early Head Start, Head Start, and Child Care Subsidy will be given priority access to service.
Related Articles
UVA Supporting State's Mission to Reduce Preschool Suspensions
In an effort to reduce preschool suspensions and expulsions, UVA researchers and their partners are building a system to better teach adults how to support young children’s mental health.
Project Leaders
Jason T. Downer
- Professor
- Director, Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning
Cloe E. Frank
- Research Specialist
- Implementation and Research Coordinator
Ann Shargo Lhospital
- Senior Scientist
Kyra Parker
- Ph.D. Student
Ann Partee
- Research Assistant Professor of Education
Amanda P. Williford
- Batten Bicentennial Professor of Early Childhood Education Associate Director for Early Childhood Education
- CASTL Clinical Psychologist