Early Childhood Mental Health Summer Institute CREATING A REFERRAL PROTOCOL FOR HEAD START Dr. Glenace Edwall, Ph.D., L.P. Antonia Wilcoxon, MIM Minnesota Department of Human Services Children’s Mental Health Division July 26, 2005

Creating a Referral Protocol Survey your local landscape Locally developed Include role of primary care provider Identifies developmentally and culturally appropriate resources Makes connections with health plans, social services or other payors

Creating a Referral Protocol Locally developed: shared agreement: early identification of socioemotional concerns and timely referral essential to growth and well-being of young children and their families easily accessible to families and their children: increased likelihood of follow up

Creating a Referral Protocol Specifies role of primary care provider: Identified as advocates of quality care, pediatric primary healthcare professionals can include various forms of screening and surveillance as part of routine healthcare. There should be understanding of reimbursement, training and information on socioemotional screening tools and community resources.

Creating a Referral Protocol Identification of developmentally and culturally appropriate resources Head Start agency has surveyed its community and identified: local community agencies, health clinics, local hospitals, healthcare professionals, health and family education staff in local school districts, community colleges, colleges and universities

Creating a Referral Protocol Makes connections with health plans, social services or other payors: Develop an early identification and referral network through healthcare/community partnership that is collaborative with the purpose of enhancing screening and referral in primary care offices and community organizations

Creating a Referral Protocol Basic Components: primary care providers: family doctor, pediatricians, clinic staff: nurses, home visiting nurses, advanced care nurses, etc. community human services and mental health agencies: county human services agency (county public health clinics, local health clinic),, Rule 29 clinic, CTSS providers, private mental health providers, nonprofit organizations, members of health advisory council; others?

Creating a Referral Protocol Staff characteristics: culturally and developmentally appropriate services Specialty areas provided: services that the MN Health Care Programs (MHCP) covers; services that families’ private health insurance covers; services that Head Start covers

Creating a Referral Protocol Resource List: start list and add as you expand your network: get information from members of your various local councils; local school district, and their various partners (early childhood special education; early childhood and family education, community education, etc.); community colleges, local colleges and universities

Creating a Referral Protocol Relationship Building Strategies: Head Start is based upon a rich framework of collaborative and partnering efforts. This only gives a short list of what best practices recommends. Invite potential partners to become allies with parents and their young children.