03.20.26

Mental health starts at birth. From the very beginning, infants and young children are shaped by the relationships they form and the environments around them. Early intervention to give young children any extra support they need is the best way to ensure healthy development throughout their lives. Caring for the mental health of parents and caregivers is just as critical, because adult well-being directly influences a child’s development. Parents with their mental health needs met are much better equipped to respond to their children’s needs  

Unfortunately, many communities in Kansas lack access to mental health services that young children and their families need to be healthy and happy. Most Kansas counties have fewer than 10 mental health providers able to serve families of all ages, and 30 counties have no mental health providers at all. Furthermore, existing services might be cost prohibitive, and families often don’t even know what they need or should look for.  

Early childhood leaders’ work to prioritize the mental health of children and families is articulated in the All In For Kansas Kids Strategic Plan. This includes making sure families can find and use services they need without undue burden and getting early childhood professionals the resources and support they need to support families’ mental health needs.  Leaders throughout the state are coming together to make progress on this vital issue:  

  • Engaging in cross-sector conversations about how to support families with young children, no matter what door they walk into 
    • Last fall, leaders from 56 different early childhood and mental/behavioral health organizations attended the Early Childhood Mental Health Convening to share resources and strategize how to fill gaps in services for families with young children.  
  • Expanding resources for early childhood professionals to identify and support mental and behavioral health needs of families with young children 
    • Over the last year alone, 319 early childhood professionals have received specialized training to better identify and support the mental and behavioral health needs of families with young children.  

To learn more about our early childhood system’s progress supporting early childhood mental health, check out the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Plan Progress Dashboard

03.20.26

Mental health starts at birth. From the very beginning, infants and young children are shaped by the relationships they form and the environments around them. Early intervention to give young children any extra support they need is the best way to ensure healthy development throughout their lives. Caring for the mental health of parents and caregivers is just as critical, because adult well-being directly influences a child’s development. Parents with their mental health needs met are much better equipped to respond to their children’s needs  

Unfortunately, many communities in Kansas lack access to mental health services that young children and their families need to be healthy and happy. Most Kansas counties have fewer than 10 mental health providers able to serve families of all ages, and 30 counties have no mental health providers at all. Furthermore, existing services might be cost prohibitive, and families often don’t even know what they need or should look for.  

Early childhood leaders’ work to prioritize the mental health of children and families is articulated in the All In For Kansas Kids Strategic Plan. This includes making sure families can find and use services they need without undue burden and getting early childhood professionals the resources and support they need to support families’ mental health needs.  Leaders throughout the state are coming together to make progress on this vital issue:  

  • Engaging in cross-sector conversations about how to support families with young children, no matter what door they walk into 
    • Last fall, leaders from 56 different early childhood and mental/behavioral health organizations attended the Early Childhood Mental Health Convening to share resources and strategize how to fill gaps in services for families with young children.  
  • Expanding resources for early childhood professionals to identify and support mental and behavioral health needs of families with young children 
    • Over the last year alone, 319 early childhood professionals have received specialized training to better identify and support the mental and behavioral health needs of families with young children.  

To learn more about our early childhood system’s progress supporting early childhood mental health, check out the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Plan Progress Dashboard