Early Detection for Better Mental Health
Mental health challenges affect one in 20 young people. If these issues are identified and treated early, children can grow up to live healthy, productive lives. But in the case of children at risk, their mental health problems are not identified early—often children of color do not receive mental health services until they enter the juvenile justice system. The costs—financial and otherwise—to the community and the individual are high, often including years of intensive treatment or time spent in the justice system.
To treat mental illness in children, it’s important to spot it early, identifying and intervening before disorders develop or become serious.
The Connecticut Health Foundation looks to support and partner with organizations that not only diagnose and treat mental health issues in at-risk children ages 6-14, but also change the way people and the state of Connecticut view and prioritize children’s mental health. Over 10 years, we will invest in projects that:
- Promote a community-based system of early identification and intervention for children with mental health challenges. This includes linking and coordinating community and medical services with schools, and developing technical assistance that helps organizations more easily identify these issues.
- Support the development and dissemination of knowledge about children’s mental health issues to educate the public and policy-makers and bring about system-wide change in the way we view the issue and treat at-risk children.
Grantees in this area
National Alliance on Mental Illness – Connecticut ChapterConnecticut Juvenile Justice AllianceClifford Beers Guidance ClinicFamily Services of Greater Waterbury – Waterbury CommunityMiddlesex Hospital - Middletown CommunityManchester Youth Service Bureau – Manchester CommunityLower Naugatuck Valley Parent / Child Resource Center – Derby CommunityConnecticut Voices for ChildrenUnited Connecticut’s Action for Neighborhoods, Inc.Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers Connecticut Legal Rights ProjectHamden Public SchoolsBridgeport Hospital Foundation ChildFIRSTFAVOR, Inc.New Britain's Discovery TeamMiddlesex Hospital Center for Behavioral Health FoundationConnecticut Juvenile Justice AllianceCenter for Children's AdvocacyMiddlesex Hospital – iCareManchester Youth Service BureauLower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource CenterFamily Services of Greater WaterburyConnecticut Chapter of the American Academy of PediatricsCenter for Children's Advocacy (CCA)The Academy of ParentsTown of Manchester, Youth Service BureauMiddlesex Hospital Center for Behavioral Health and Family AdvocacyLower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource CenterFamily Services of Greater WaterburyConnecticut Department of Children and FamiliesConnecticut Appleseed Center for Law & JusticeCommunity Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA)Child FIRST Replication ProjectNutmeg Big Brothers Big SistersLower Naugatuck Valley System of CareCovenant to Care for Children, Inc.African Caribbean American Parents of Children with DisabilitiesWaterbury Prevention Policy BoardWaterbury Family Focus PartnershipUnited Community & Family Services, Inc.Town of Wallingford Department of Youth and Social ServicesTown of Manchester Youth Service BureauSoutheast Mental Health System of Care LEARNThe Partnership for Kids/PARK ProjectOffice of the Healthcare AdvocateThe Northwest Caring ConnectionNew Britain Youth & Family ServicesMiddlesex Hospital Center for Behavioral HealthLower Naugatuck Valley Parent Child Resource Center, Inc.Lawyers for Children America, Inc.The Hartford/West Hartford System of CareHall-Brooke Behavioral Health ServicesFree to GrowFamilies United for Children's Mental HealthEducation Development CenterConnecticut Juvenile Justice AllianceCommunity Renewal TeamCommunity Health ResourcesCity of Norwalk Department of Youth ServicesChild Guidance Clinic for Central Connecticut, Inc.Center for Children's Advocacy, Inc.Bridges ... A Community Support SystemBridges ... A Community Support SystemTrue ColorsNorwalk Community Health CenterLEARN -- The Southeast Mental Health System of CareFAVOR, Inc.Families United for Children's Mental HealthFamilies United for Children's Mental HealthDanbury Youth Services, Inc.
Connecticut Commission on ChildrenChildSight® ConnecticutChild Health & Development Institute of ConnecticutBridges ... A Community Support SystemBridges ... A Community Support SystemThe Northwest Caring ConnectionSoutheast Mental Health System of Care CollaborativeNutmeg Big Brothers Big SistersLower Naugatuck Valley System of Care CollaborativeHartford Behavioral HealthGreater Danbury Family Focus ProjectFAVOR, Inc.Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield CountyCenter for Children's Advocacy, Inc.Bridgeport Hospital Foundation, ChildFIRSTTrue Colors, Inc.Southeast Mental Health Care System at LEARNFocus Alternative Learning Center, Inc.FAVOR, Inc.Family Services of Central Connecticut, Inc.Child Health and Development InstituteBridges – A Community Support System, Inc.Advanced Behavioral HealthWaterbury Youth Service System, Inc.The Foundation for Mental HealthThe Foundation for Mental HealthSoutheast Mental Health System of Care LEARNSoutheast Mental Health System of Care LEARNO.N.E./ C.H.A.N.E.FAVOR, Inc.Families United for Children’s Mental HealthConnecticut Center for Effective PracticeCommunity Health ResourcesChild Guidance Center of Southern ConnecticutCenter for Children’s Advocacy, Inc.Center for Children's Advocacy, Inc.Bridgeport Hospital Foundation Child FIRST [Child & Family Interagency Resource, Support, and Training Program]Bridgeport Hospital Foundation Child FIRST [Child & Family Interagency Resource, Support, and Training Program]Bridges ... A Community Support System, Inc.AFCAMPAFCAMPWaterbury Youth Service System, Inc.Southeast Mental Health System of CareHartford Behavioral HealthFamilies United for Children's Mental HealthConnecticut Center for Effective PracticeCommunity Health ResourcesChild Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut, Inc.Center for Children's Advocacy, Inc.Bridges … A Community Support System, Inc.Bridgeport Hospital Foundation Child FIRST [Child & Family Interagency Resource, Support, and Training Program]Wheeler Clinic, Inc.Southeast Mental Health System of Care LEARNFAVOR, Inc.Family Services Woodfield RescueConnecticut Voices for ChildrenChild Health and Development InstituteChild Guidance ClinicCenter for HopeCenter for Children’s Advocacy, Inc.Bridgeport Hospital Foundation Child FIRST [Child & Family Interagency Resource, Support, and Training Program]Families United for Children's Mental HealthChild Health and Development InstituteAFCAMPYale Child Study CenterRegional Youth/Adult Substance Abuse ProjectNutmeg Big Brothers Big SistersHartford Action Plan on Infant HealthEmerge, Inc.Child Health and Development InstituteApply for a grant
