Healthy Futures
The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Project, known as the Healthy Futures Program, operates in 24 child development centers located throughout the District. Consultation focuses on improving the overall quality of the program and assisting staff to solve a specific issue that affects more than one child, staff member, or family. The Healthy Futures Program offers child and family-centered consultation services to care providers and family members that build their skills and capacity to:

Promote social emotional development
Prevent escalation of challenging behaviors
Increase appropriate referrals for additional assessments and services
An independent evaluation of the Healthy Futures Program first year identified measureable improvements:

Improvement in staff ability to manage challenging behaviors, knowledge of how to refer children and families for mental health services, and comfort with mental health services
Significant increase in positive child interactions—more children appeared to be happy and well-adjusted, more involved, well behaved, cooperative and attentive
Significant decrease in negative indicators of classroom climate such as staff placing unrealistic demands on children or shouting at children
Low expulsion rate—half the national average
A second year evaluation showed similar results.

Primary Project
This evidence based practice provides screening and early intervention services to children identified with mild school adjustment issues in pre-kindergarten through third grade in certain public schools and Child Development Centers.

Parent Infant Early Childhood Enhancement Program
The Parent Infant Early Childhood Enhancement Program serves primarily children five years of age and younger. The program involves play and art therapy, infant observation, and Parent Child Interaction Therapies, and supports parenting groups.