Bill > H5497

This bill requires the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to develop and fund an early childhood mental health hub program aimed at improving mental health services for children under six years old. The hub, which would be a pilot program running for at least three years, will focus on several key objectives: training and supporting infant and early childhood mental health professionals, maintaining a registry of qualified professionals, monitoring service availability and advancements in interventions, and making recommendations to improve behavioral health systems. Specifically, the hub will prioritize offering training for clinicians in evidence-based dyadic therapy models like child-parent psychotherapy, developing appropriate mental health screenings and assessments for young children, advancing equitable access to services, reducing racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care, and serving as a community resource for families seeking therapeutic services. The bill highlights a significant increase in mental health challenges among young children in Rhode Island, noting that Medicaid enrollment for children with serious emotional disturbance grew from 10% in 2017 to 22% in 2024, and aims to address the current limited infrastructure for supporting mental health services for children under six.

Health and Social Services

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