Launching Youngsters

Early childhood teachers have been reporting a rise in the number of children that display biting, hitting, and other challenging behaviors in their preschools. Some even report expelling chronic offenders. In fact, according to a Yale University study, preschoolers are three times more likely to be expelled than their K–12 peers, usually for troublesome behavior.

As many as 20 percent of children in the United States have mental disorders, and so expelling preschoolers does not get to the root of the problem. While many early education providers address the psychosocial issues, the expulsion study helped to launch a national debate on how well communities as a whole are supporting the needs of young children.

That national debate led to the formation of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) to focus on improving all aspects of children’s health from birth to age 8. This fundamentally involves strengthening the integration of systems that serve young children and address their physical, emotional, social, and behavioral development, as well as improving the methods for providing services.

“Project LAUNCH grants enhance and energize essential child-serving systems in communities throughout the country,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “It is a very promising approach to promoting healthy child development in a way that offers new hope to young people, families and communities.”

Federal funding for Project LAUNCH was awarded in 2008 to the states of Arizona, Maine, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Washington, as well as the tribal community of Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewas. Twelve additional LAUNCH grants were awarded in September 2009 to the states of Oregon, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Illinois, California, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, District of Columbia, Ohio, New York, and Kansas.

To help them with all phases of their five-year grants—which includes developing a strategic plan, implementing evidence-based practices that work, and strengthening the integration of services—they receive training and technical assistance from the National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Violence Prevention operated by EDC's Health and Human Development Division.

Each state and tribe that receives a Project LAUNCH grant will build upon its existing systems that serve young children and put in place a range of public health strategies. The expansion of services include mental health consultation, developmental assessments, the integration of behavioral health programs into primary care, family strengthening and parent training, and home visitation programs.

“Our goal is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential and experience optimal development,” explains Deborah Haber, Director of the National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Violence Prevention. “That means that LAUNCH programs address behavioral disorder, but they are also proactive, focusing on promoting wellness in young children and preventing future mental health issues, such as addiction, dropout, and crime in adolescents and adults.”