2026 Minnesota Statutes

245.4908 EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION GRANTS.

Subdivision 1.Establishment.

The commissioner of human services must establish an early childhood mental health consultation grant program to support the delivery of specialized mental health care consultation to child care, social services, educational, and health programs that serve children five years of age or younger.

Subd. 2.Eligible applicants.

An applicant is eligible for an early childhood mental health consultation grant under this section if the applicant is:

(1) a mental health clinic certified under section 245I.20;

(2) a community mental health center under section 256B.0625, subdivision 5;

(3) an Indian health service facility or a facility owned and operated by a Tribe or Tribal organization operating under United States Code, title 25, section 5321;

(4) a provider of children's therapeutic services and supports, as defined in section 256B.0943; or

(5) an agency with expertise in infant and early childhood mental health that has the competency to provide early childhood mental health consultation and training.

Subd. 3.Allowable grant activities and related expenses.

Grant money must be used to provide early childhood mental health consultation, including but not limited to:

(1) supporting early identification of social, emotional, and behavioral concerns for children five years of age or younger through observation, screening support, and guidance to early childhood professionals;

(2) developing and delivering training to early childhood professionals that includes evidence-based or evidence-informed clinical practices related to infant and early childhood mental health, and train-the-trainer models to build capacity for grantees to train the grantee's staff; and

(3) providing direct or reflective consultation to early childhood professionals.

Subd. 4.Data collection and outcome measurement.

(a) The commissioner must consult with grantees to develop ongoing outcome measures for program capacity and performance.

(b) Grantees must collect and report the data required under paragraph (c) quarterly to the commissioner in a form and manner specified by the commissioner, for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program.

(c) Grantees must provide the following data to the commissioner:

(1) the number of sites, programs, and early childhood professionals served by the grantee;

(2) demographics of participants served by the grantee; and

(3) data to demonstrate outcomes related to improving early childhood professionals' ability to support the mental, social, and emotional development of young children.

History:

2026 c 95 art 5 s 3