Goal: To support a system of behavioral health care, including education, prevention, earlier identification, and intervention from early childhood through young adulthood to set up individuals for success throughout life.
Grants in this targeted area should aim to:
- Increase access for all families and youth, regardless of economic status
- Increase awareness of available resources and participation in help-seeking behaviors and well-being
- Continue focus on prevention and early intervention
- Increase access to a variety of evidence-informed youth and family interventions
- Increase access to equitable services addressing the needs of underserved and marginalized youth
Possible strategies to improve systems of behavioral health care for children and youth:
- Expand behavioral health investments for schools, school-based services, and school mental health resources
- Address mental health, self-harm, and substance use disorders early through programming focused on protective factors, community engagement, positive youth development, peer support services, and upstream prevention projects
- Increase access to peer support staff for youth
- Integrate behavioral health screening and interventions in pediatric, primary care, and early childhood settings
- Expand in-home and community-based youth and family support services (such as respite care for families, warm lines, drop-in services, peer services)
