Strategies
Project LAUNCH grantees design and deliver programs, services, and other types of support to promote young child wellness in their target communities. They base services and supports on evidence-based practices (EBPs): approaches to promotion, prevention, or treatment that are validated by documented research evidence. Services and supports may also be based on emerging or promising practices. In fact, each Project LAUNCH grantee implements a range of practices in five designated topic areas listed below. Grantees, especially those funded in 2010, emphasize substance abuse prevention in many of their activities. For information on how LAUNCH grantees implement these services and supports, visit the Implementation section of this Web site.
Mental Health ConsultationAs one of the five required community-level interventions for Project LAUNCH, mental health consultation can be a powerful tool for supporting young children’s social and emotional health and development. | Home VisitingHome-visiting programs are an important component of early childhood systems development efforts. Program goals vary across home-visiting programs, but most deal with issues such as health care, education, and development. |
Developmental AssessmentsRecent policy statements by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education have highlighted the importance of early childhood professionals’ use of developmental screening and assessments to identify developmental delays and disorders. | Family StrengtheningFamily strengthening activities and parent skills training are key components of the Project LAUNCH approach to family support. Some experts define family support as a constellation of formal and informal services and supports and tangible goods that are defined and determined by families. |
Behavioral Health into Primary CareRecent studies indicate that one in five U.S. children and adolescents experience mental health problems. Because 75 percent of children with diagnosed mental health disorders are seen in primary care settings, pediatricians and other primary care providers are often in a position of having to address social, emotional and behavioral issues presented by their patients. | Substance Abuse PreventionMore to come. |
