Linking infants and toddlers in foster care to early childhood mental health services

Infants and toddlers in foster care are at high risk yet face barriers in accessing mental health services. This study evaluated a model program designed to screen young foster children (n = 432) and link them with infant mental health services. Regression analyses identified predictors of appropriate referral and linkage among demographic, placement, and screening clinician variables, and the impact of the program improvement. Clinicians with early childhood training and psychologists who participated in the program improvement were found to provide more appropriate referrals, and referrals led to high rates of mental health service delivery. Prenatal substance exposure was associated with more appropriate referral. Linkage rates did not vary by ethnicity, age, gender, or placement type.

► Program improvement linked foster children with infant mental health services. ► Linkage particularly improved for children prenatally exposed to substances. ► Training in infant mental health and less stigmatizing services helped linkage. ► Procedural changes were important to improved linkage to mental health services.