| H79SM091532↗ | Department of Health and Human Services | SOUTH CAROLINA INFANT MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION | PROJECT GRANT (B) | 2026-08-31 | 2026-08-31 | 1 | EARLY CONNECTIONS: EXPANDING INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH IN THE LOWCOUNTRY AND BEYOND - EARLY CONNECTIONS WILL EXPAND INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH (IECMH) SERVICES ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA’S LOWCOUNTRY—BERKELEY, BEAUFORT, CHARLESTON, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES—SERVING 2,529 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS OVER FIVE YEARS. THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON CHILDREN AGES 0–5 WITH DEVELOPMENTAL, BEHAVIORAL, SOCIAL‑EMOTIONAL, OR RELATIONSHIP CONCERNS, AND FAMILIES FACING POVERTY, ACES, CHILD‑WELFARE INVOLVEMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, OR LIMITED ACCESS TO CARE. SERVICES INCLUDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR 440 PROFESSIONALS, SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT FOR 1,661 CHILDREN, IECMH TREATMENT FOR 68 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND CONSULTATION FOR 360 CAREGIVERS AND PROVIDERS. STATEWIDE WARMLINE CONSULTATION AND TRAINING EXTEND REACH BEYOND THE FOUR‑COUNTY SERVICE AREA. EARLY CONNECTIONS WILL EXPAND WORKFORCE CAPACITY THROUGH IECMH FOUNDATIONS AND CLINICAL CERTIFICATES, DC:0–5 TRAINING, CPP, AND STATEWIDE CONSULTATION; ENHANCE HELP ME GROW SOUTH CAROLINA FOR SCREENING, REFERRALS, AND NAVIGATION; BROADEN CLINICAL SERVICES WITH A DEDICATED IECMH CLINICIAN; AND IMPLEMENT WARMLINE CONSULTATION. PROJECT GOALS ARE TO STRENGTHEN IECMH WORKFORCE COMPETENCY; INCREASE SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, AND REFERRAL CAPACITY; EXPAND TREATMENT AND CONSULTATION ACCESS; AND IMPROVE CHILD AND FAMILY OUTCOMES. KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDE TRAINING 425+ PROFESSIONALS, INCREASING SCREENING 20% ANNUALLY, CONDUCTING 50 ASSESSMENTS ANNUALLY BY YEAR 4, SERVING 100+ FAMILIES THROUGH TREATMENT, AND IMPROVING CHILD FUNCTIONING, CAREGIVER CONFIDENCE, AND ACCESS TO COORDINATED IECMH SUPPORTS. | $477.9K |