The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced a $5 million investment to strengthen early childhood mental health services across Massachusetts, with Lynnfield named among the many communities set to benefit.
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was awarded more than $1.15 million in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Grants. This funding will support early education and care providers in Lynnfield and dozens of other cities and towns across the state. The grants are designed to boost the social-emotional development and behavioral health of infants and young children.
The initiative will fund training for educators, promote trauma-informed care, and help providers identify and respond to early signs of developmental or mental health challenges in young children. The funding also supports partnerships between early childhood programs and families, including behavior support plans and referrals to local services when needed.
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll emphasized the importance of investing in children’s mental health from the start. “Early education and care programs play a vital role in supporting the foundation for infant and child mental health that will serve our students throughout their lives,” she said. “We are pleased to provide this funding so that our early educators can access the resources they need.”
The grants align with the administration’s broader efforts to address a growing youth mental health crisis, including a training initiative rolled out earlier this year called STREET (Strategies for Trauma Responsive Early Educator Training). The goal is to equip early educators with tools to support children’s emotional well-being both in the classroom and beyond.
“This grant funding is an important investment in our young learners,” said State Rep. Ken Gordon, house chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “Supporting the social-emotional development and behavioral health of our children from the start will set them on a path of long-term success.”
Residents can learn more about available early childhood behavioral health resources at mass.gov/early-childhood-resources.
