Newswise — DETROIT – A $4 million grant to the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute (MPSI) at Wayne State University will help prevent serious emotional and behavioral problems among young children in Detroit while promoting healthy development and reducing health disparities. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) funded the five-year project through its Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) program.
The MPSI Project LAUNCH (MPSI-PL): Promoting the Well-Being of Young Children in Detroit grant will educate and support hundreds of parents and other adults caring for young children while increasing access to high-quality infant and toddler mental health services in multisector settings (home visits, pediatric clinics, classrooms) as well as early childhood education for children ages 0-8.
Carla Caringi-Barron, Ph.D., assistant professor (research) at MPSI, is the grant’s principal investigator.
“With this funding, we can strengthen opportunities to support babies, families and professionals in Detroit,” said Caringi-Barron. “From medical staff to early childhood educators to parents and mental health providers, this project considers everyone who cares for young children in Detroit.”
The needs of many young families in Detroit are high. Thirty percent of Detroit residents live below the poverty line, and 21 percent of children live in extreme poverty. About 40 percent of Detroit children have experienced numerous adverse experiences during their childhood. More than half of Detroit children lack access to quality early childhood education and child care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Detroit ranks very high on its Social Vulnerability Index; census data puts many Detroit neighborhoods at 10 out of 10 in terms of regional disadvantage (Center for Health Disparities, University of Wisconsin).
Working with key community partners, the new program has set ambitious goals to meet these needs. Community collaboration is critical.
“We will work with community members to ensure that services reflect their life experiences and take into account their perspectives,” Caringi-Barron said.
The grant will finance the following services:
- Culturally appropriate behavioral health screenings and assessments of children ages birth to 8 years and their parents/caregivers.
- Infant and young child mental health intervention services.
- Training for families and parents on early childhood development and culturally appropriate and effective parenting strategies, including monthly e-newsletters to promote play, bonding, stress reduction and problem solving in young families.
- Behavioral health training in primary care settings as part of integrated pediatric primary care. Currently, few if any pediatric practices in Detroit offer prevention-focused integrated primary care for young children.
- Mental health counseling in early childhood education and care settings.
- Establishment of a community-based Detroit Young Child Wellness Council (DYCWC).
In addition to Caringi-Barron, who also coordinates clinical training for graduate students in the Infant Mental Health Dual-Title Program at MPSI, the team includes MPSI faculty members Carolyn Dayton, Ph.D., LMSW (director of integrated care); Ann Stacks, Ph.D. (systems integration liaison); Lucy McGoron, Ph.D. (director of evaluation); Olivenne Skinner, Ph.D. (director of health equity); Beverly Weathington, LMSW (outreach and engagement coordinator); and MPSI director Alissa Huth-Bocks, Ph.D.
Huth-Bocks is honored by this generous grant and is grateful to the community partners who will help realize these goals – all in line with MPSI’s long-standing mission.
“This grant to Project LAUNCH recognizes MPSI’s commitment to providing children with opportunities to thrive in the early years of life, laying the foundation for lifelong health and well-being,” she said. “Our exemplary team is poised to make a positive impact on Detroit’s children, families and other key adults who care for young children.”
“This grant represents an important commitment to the future of Detroit’s youngest residents and will help ensure they have the opportunity to thrive on a solid foundation of health and well-being,” said Ezemenari M. Obasi, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation at Wayne State. “I look forward to the impact the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute team will have on children, parents, caregivers, our community and more through this important award.”
The grant number for this grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services is H79SM087686.
The Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development promotes and improves the well-being of children and families across the lifespan through research, education and outreach. The Institute is part of Wayne State University Department of Research and Innovation.
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About Wayne State University
Wayne State University is one of the nation’s premier public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry, and other institutions, the university seeks to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan, and around the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit research.wayne.edu.
Wayne State University’s research efforts are dedicated to a prosperity program that improves the lives of our students, supports our faculty in continuing to push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation, and strengthens the bonds that connect Wayne State and our community. To learn more about the Wayne State University Prosperity Program, visit President.wayne.edu/prosperity-agenda.
