Medicaid Partnerships in Washington State Contributing to a Continuum of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Supports and Services

This brief presents a case study informed by the perspectives of partners across sectors in Washington state who have engaged in innovative ways to build the infrastructure and field capacity to finance infant and early childhood mental health screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Specific examples from Washington will help other national and state program leaders understand ways state administrators across agencies can partner with advocates and policymakers to raise awareness about infant and early childhood mental health; approaches for collaborating with colleagues in state Medicaid offices on specific financing strategies; and strategies for advocating for and implementing reform in the assessment and diagnosis of mental health issues in infants, toddlers, and young children that drive service delivery and billing.