Evaluating Elements of the Framework for Effective IECMHC in Wisconsin's Health Minds Healthy Children Program (August 2024)

In January 2023, the Wisconsin Alliance for

Infant Mental Health (WI AIMH) received

funding from Wisconsin’s Department of

Children and Families through a one-time subaward from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to create a culturally responsive

statewide Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program to support Early Care and Education (ECE) programs. Through this effort, the IECMHC program Healthy Minds Healthy Children (HMHC) was created.

Wisconsin’s Infant Association of Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) partnered with the Evaluation Firm, Indigo Cultural Center to evaluation the creation and implementation of the HMHC program during the first year. The present evaluation was conceptualized in three parts: 1) the three (3) Core Components of the HMHC Program (e.g., solid program infrastructure, highly qualified consultants, and high-quality services); 2) the Catalysts for Success which focused on community readiness throughout the state of Wisconsin, and 3) the Positive Outcomes experienced by consultees (e.g., early care and education sites). The focus of WI-AIMH’s first year of funding was to establish the HMHC program and cultivate a workforce. Therefore, evaluation efforts primarily focused on the Core Components and Catalysts for Success (e.g., community readiness for IECMHC). Measuring evidence of change in Positive Outcomes would require additional funding and time.

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