The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is partnering with Child Trends to evaluate the state’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) system. The goals of the evaluation are to better understand the reach and scope of ECMHC services, to track change over time in key variables, and to more deeply understand the mechanism[s] by which consultation is working.
Background
Since 2016, Minnesota has offered ECMHC as a support for the early childhood workforce. ECMHC is an evidence-based service in which mental health professionals partner with early childhood professionals and programs to build their capacity to promote early childhood social-emotional development. Research links ECMHC participation with a range of positive outcomes, including improved child social-emotional skills, teacher-child relationships, and classroom climate. While ECMHC has most commonly been implemented and studied in center-based child care settings, Minnesota also offers consultation to more novel settings, including family child care; family, friend, and neighbor care; elementary schools; and community resource centers.
Evaluation approach
Child Trends is conducting a longitudinal, mixed-methods evaluation of Minnesota’s ECMHC system. Key components include:
- Administrative data on the system’s reach, dosage, and implementation patterns
- Survey data to measure change over time in key participant outcomes such as self-efficacy, expulsion risk, and trauma-informed attitudes
- Focus groups with ECMH consultants to understand how they deliver consultation in a range of settings
This work is grounded in ongoing engagement with DHS program leadership and consultants to ensure that the evaluation reflects implementation realities and supports continuous improvement.
To meet our goals for this evaluation, the team is partnering with Minnesota to:
- Co-create a program logic model.
- Enhance administrative data collection systems.
- Design and implement a longitudinal mixed-methods evaluation.
- Regularly engage with program staff and consultants to inform the evaluation.
Intended impacts
This evaluation will help Minnesota:
- Describe the reach and dosage of ECMHC across settings.
- Document workforce outcomes associated with consultation.
- Build infrastructure for ongoing evaluation and continuous quality improvement.
Findings will also contribute to the broader ECMHC field by examining implementation in a diverse range of settings, including less-studied settings such as family child care and elementary schools.
Timeline
Year 1 (2024-2025)
- Redesign of administrative data systems
- Development of an evaluation plan
Years 2-5 (2025-2029)
- Ongoing administrative data collection
- Evaluation data collection (surveys and focus groups)
- Semi-annual reports
- Summative report
Resources
- Ask the Researchers: Supporting the Workforce through Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
- Check back to see new resources as they are published!
Funder
This project is funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Project study team
Annie Davis Schoch
Diana Gal-Szabo
Holly Keaton
Doré LaForett