Montana will have a comprehensive system of early childhood mental health supports that can be replicated in communities throughout the state. Montana families and children will be supported by an early childhood system that is invested in their social and emotional development.

The Mission of the Montana Project LAUNCH Initiative is to strengthen the collaborative system that supports healthy children and families through:

• Implementing the Pyramid Model framework to support the social, emotional, and mental health needs of young children and families.
• Increasing access to screening, assessment, and referral to appropriate services for young children and their families.
• Improving service delivery through innovative approaches, such as primary care/behavioral health integration, mental health consultation in early care and education, enhanced home visiting, cross sector professional development, and increased access to parent skills training.
• Improving coordination and collaboration within the system of care.
• Reducing health disparities due to race, ethnicity, income, gender, and geography related to access, use, and outcomes from services through culturally relevant evidence-based prevention and wellness promotion practices.
• Developing strategies and interventions to inform a model for statewide replication backed by local data showing positive child and family outcomes.

The values of the Montana Project LAUNCH Initiative are:

• Strong partnerships with families
• Child-centered and family-focused
• Inclusive and collaborative
• Community-based and locally adapted
• Complementary to existing initiatives
• Culturally and linguistically responsive
• Embedded into natural settings and existing services
• Grounded in developmental knowledge, data, and practice

1. Screening and assessment in a range of child-serving settings
2. Integration of behavioral health into primary care settings
3. Mental health consultation in early care and education
4. Family strengthening and parent skills training
5. Enhanced home visiting through increased focus on social and emotional well-being

1. Bozeman Health

2. Child Care Connections

3. Community Health Partners

4. Early Childhood Community Council

5. Gallatin City-County Health Department

6. Greater Gallatin United Way

7. Park County Early Childhood Coalition

8. Park County Health Department

9. Thrive

• Children’s Mental Health Bureau

• Early Childhood Services Bureau

• Family and Community Health Bureau

• Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies- The Montana Coalition
• National Resource Center for Mental Health Promotion & Youth Violence Prevention
• Postpartum Support International
• Pyramid Model
• SAMHSA