The Health Foundation of Central Mass

29 Over the course of the grant period, the TFK team created a successful model. With an average of 24 hours of behavior- al health consultation for teachers and parents, children's challenging behaviors, developmental skills, and social and emotional health significantly improved when compared with those who attend- ed preschools without the intervention. Following implementation of TFK, the suspension rate plummeted to near zero. Not only did the project succeed in creating a viable strategy to address chal- lenging behavior among some preschool children, it also helped change public policy for all children in the state. e TFK Coalition took the positive findings from the program to the legislature to educate lawmakers on the importance of the issue. ey secured the inclusion of early childhood mental health in a statute for the Department of Early Education and Care and convinced the state to add a new line item to the FY 2008 budget for statewide early childhood mental health services . As a result, they have obtained a com- mitment of more than $30 million in funding in the state budget in mental health consultation in preschool settings from 2008 to 2023. "e key to the success of TFK was mutual respect among partners," said Lynn Hennigan, project director. "We all showed belief in the importance of the work." e success of TFK was recognized across the country in many newspapers and national publications. "No organization has accomplished so much for the community," Ms. Hennigan said. "None of this would have happened without e Health Foundation and the framework they created. It was a brilliant concept with excellent results." n (L-R) TFK coalition member Ann Flynn, State Representative Patricia Haddad and project director Lynn Hennigan. Friday, June 12, 2009 Coalition selected for nationwide study WORCESTER — The Together for Kids Coalition, which includes more than 50 Worcester County agencies, nonprofits, schools and human services providers, said yesterday it has been selected to participate in a nationwide study "Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation as an Evidence-Based Practice" conducted by Georgetown University. At its annual meeting, the coalition also awarded its TFK Leadership Award to Janice B. Yost, president and chief executive officer of the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. "None of this would have happened without The Health Foundation and the framework they created. It was a brilliant concept with excellent results." Lynn Hennigan, project director, TFK

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