Early Childhood Mental Health Support Act

The Early Childhood Mental Health Support Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services to identify and review evidence-based interventions that improve the social, emotional, and behavioral health of children in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This process includes selecting trauma-informed practices that support both child development and staff wellness while consulting with experts and the public before implementation. Following the review, the bill authorizes grants to diverse Head Start agencies across the country to adopt these proven methods and establishes a framework to evaluate their effectiveness over time. Additionally, the legislation funds up to five university centers to train future staff and provides $100 million in authorized funding for these activities from fiscal years 2027 through 2036.