Example Strategic Action Plan for Mental Health

Goal: “To provide or facilitate comprehensive, family friendly, culturally competent and
relationship-based mental health services that support the positive well being of children, families
and staff in the program.”

Date Developed: 4/2004

Date of last review: 5/2005
Date of next review: 10/2006
Objective Action Item/Strategy Who’s Responsible Targeted Progress Notes
Completi & Update Dates
on Date
1. Determine & Implement
Desired Mental Health
Consultation
Get training on capacity-building Management Team 2005-06 Received 9/05;
approaches for ECMHC planned for 1/06
Gather input from staff on MHC Strategic Planning Fall 2005 Completed.
needs Group
Develop MH mission statement Strategic Planning Fall 2005 Completed.
Group
2. Develop additional
resources for direct mental
health service to high-
need children
Develop other community Mental Health Jan 2006 MHM/D meeting with
resources beyond current mental manager, program & ongoing CCMH to explore
health provider director options 5/05
Write grants for more direct MH Program director, Ongoing Need to develop a plan

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 services for children partner w/ to identify RFP’s
community mental
health
Consider having a university or MH manager, MHC Feb 2006 Need to identify
other intern appropriate university
contact
3. Acquire capacity to
provide space for confidential
mental health meetings with
families
Inventory each center to identify Ctr Managers Jan 2006 Completed.
available space for confidential
meetings
Provide “do not disturb” signs at Ctr Managers Jan 2006 Completed.
each center
Consider white noise machines if Ctr Managers Jan 2006 Not needed.
needed at centers
4. Increase parent access to
MH services in more rural
areas
Work with partners to provide MH manager, Prog Fall 2006 Initial meeting with
on-site adult mental health director community MHP;
services at Head Start locations follow-up scheduled.
Write grant to support Program director, Fall 2006 Grant submitted to
transportation for parents to get transportation local foundation 2/05
to mental health provider, manager
especially to initial required
meeting
1. Maximize MHC support
to staff
Prioritize MHC time in MHC, program Fall 2005; Changes in place
classrooms director revisit SP 2005-06
2006

2
 Develop ways to facilitate staff- MHC, Education Fall 2005; Changes in place
MHC communication to make coordinator revisit SP 2005-06
the most of MHC classroom 2006
visits
Improve response time of MHC MHC, education Fall 2005; Changes in place
to requests for help coordinator revisit SP 2005-06
2006
More staff training by MHC Management Team 2005-2006 Several scheduled
Include drivers in trainings MHC 2005-06
Provide ongoing clarification of Management Team, Ongoing Ongoing
role of the MHC MHC
2. Maximize staff peer
support and exchange of
ideas
Use increased supervision time Center managers Fall 2005 Ongoing
to discuss MH issues of families
and children
Dedicate time for “case Education Spring
consultation” on teacher/family Coordinator, Family 2006
advocate training days Services
Coordinator, MHC
3. Help parents better
understand children’s
mental health issues
Offer at least 2 parent classes or Family Services Ongoing Maternal Depression
support groups annually focused Coordinator support group
on mental health-related topics scheduled to start Fall
2006
Have MHC do parent training on Program director, Ongoing Parent training
mental health issues annually. MHC scheduled Spring 2005
Offer stress reduction/support Mgmt team 2006 On hold until 2007
groups for parents
4. Increase the level of

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 cultural competency of
mental health services and
approach
Seek out external trainer to MH manager 2006 Scheduled for 2006
provide training on mental health preservice.
issues for Hispanic families
Continue to reach out to access Management Team Ongoing Need to revisit/refine
resources to improve cultural this objective.
competency
Refine model for supporting Bilingual staff, MH Ongoing Need to implement a
MHC to work effectively with Manager, MHC team to work on this
non-English speaking families for 2006-2007.
5. Create more within-
program resources for MH
Organize on-site literature so Identify a student Spring
that it is more accessible to staff intern and/or 2006
(an “approved” bibliography) volunteers to do this.
Have materials or brochures Contact community Spring
available at each site for partners for 2006.
frequently asked questions (bed materials
wetting, nail biting, thumb
sucking, autism, bullying, etc)
Make sure materials (above) are Family Services Spring
translated into needed languages manager. 2006.