Evaluation of the Early Childhood Mental Health Family Independence, Resilience, Support, and Treatment (ECMH FIRST) Project

Description

The Early Childhood Mental Health Family Independence, Resilience, Support, and Treatment (ECMH FIRST) project began in October 2019 and expands the LAUNCH/MYCHILD model previously developed and evaluated by this team to a novel setting.

The direct-service goal of ECMH FIRST is to improve access to high-quality, culturally competent, evidence-based behavioral health services through an innovative Family Partner/Clinician service model for children age 0-48 months and their families in Boston who are involved with the child welfare system.

The project employs a family partner, clinician, and service coordinator to implement the evidence-informed LAUNCH-MYCHILD model to better identify and serve families with children who are either at high risk for social, emotional and/or behavioral problems, or who already show symptoms of severe emotional disturbances.

The project is in the early stages of implementation by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). The evaluation study is being led by researchers at the Institute of Health Equity and Social Justice Research at Northeastern University. Impacts of the intervention on social, emotional and behavioral health of the children and on their caregivers (foster families, birth parents, case workers) will be measured over time, as will the development and improvement of systems for the care of young children with behavioral health needs in Boston, Massachusetts.

BPHC

Boston Public Health Commission
Funded by SAMHSA

Partners at Boston Public Health Commission:
Christy Moulin
Malika Arty
Tasha Bradshaw
Sade Douglas

Project Team

Beth Molnar - Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research, Northeastern University

Dr. Beth E. Molnar
Principal Investigator
Northeastern University

Farad Noubary - Northeastern University

Dr. Farzad Noubary
Co-Investigator
Northeastern University

Daphney Mirand 

Program Manager
Northeastern University

Tommy Carpenito

Graduate Assistant
Northeastern University

Sameera Nayak - Northeastern University

Sameera Nayak
Graduate Assistant
Northeastern University

Arielle Scoglio - Northeastern University

Arielle Scoglio
Graduate Assistant
Northeastern University

Kayla Anderson

Research Assistant 

Northeastern University

Amy Kelleher

Amy Kelleher
Research Assistant 

Northeastern University

Shurobhi Nandi

Shurobhi Nandi

Research Assistant 

Northeastern University

 

Alice Yun

Alice Yun

Research Assistant 

Northeastern University