Tim Kaine: “the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need to expand mental health services for children in the United States. More…”

“the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need to expand mental health services for children in the United States. More than 20 percent of parents with children aged 5-12 years reported that their children experienced worsened mental or emotional health as a result of the pandemic. In Virginia, one in five children experience symptoms of a mental health disorder. Schools, childcare settings, and communities are in need of additional support to address the needs of our Nation's children and families. Early identification and intervention for emotional or behavioral disorders for infants and young children may help to prevent more severe mental health issues in later youth and adulthood. That is why Senator Collins and I are introducing the Investing in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Act to reauthorize the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health--IECMH--program through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA. First authorized in 2016 under the 21st Century Cures Act, the goal of the IECMH program is to improve outcomes for children, from birth up to 12 years of age, by developing, maintaining, or enhancing infant and early childhood mental health promotion, intervention, and treatment services. Since 2018, SAMHSA has provided $20 million in funding to support infant and early childhood mental health programs across the country.…”