Blue Ribbon Policy Council for Early
Childhood Mental Health

Healthy Minds, Strong Futures Policy Toolkit

Toolkit Sections:

BRPC Toolkit Home

Colorado Opportunities

• House Bill 1451
• Mental Health Special Tax Districts
  

Key Messages

• Invest in young children's social and
  environmental development
• Mental health is fundamental to the overal
  l health and well-being of young children

Resources

• Data and Information
  • Quick facts
    • National data
    • Colorado data
  • Links to other websites
  • References
• Strategies
  • Educate and inform policy makers
    • Meeting with your public officials
    • Testimony
    • Legislative briefing
    • Effective strategies for
      legislative advocacy
  • Getting the word out through the media
    • Public service announcements
    • Letters to the editor
    • OpEd
    • Drop-in article
    • Media alerts and news releases
    • Press conferences
    • T.V. and radio interviews
  • Community awareness: activities and materials
    • Billboards
    • Shopping Carts
    • Community Events and Activities
      

Other Tips

• In the community
• In the classroom
• At colleges and universities
• In faith communities
• Creating and presenting organized and
  compelling speeches
• Creating powerful data presentations
• Overcoming stage fright

About the Blue Ribbon Policy Council

• Members

Resources

The Policy Toolkit contains many of the tools and information that community leaders need to impact policy and systems change to promote young children's mental health and social and emotional development.

These resources are:

• Fact Sheets
• Data and Information
• Strategies

 

Fact Sheets

The following fact sheets can be used and customized by communities to meet their unique needs and circumstances to impact policy and systems change in our state. These fact sheets are examples--they can be used as they are or communities may supplement them. (If you cannot download these documents, click here to download the latest version of Abobe Reader for free.)

• Invest in Young Children's Social and Emotional Development (PDF)
• Mental Health is Fundamental to the Overall Health and Well-Being on Young Children (PDF)
• National Facts (PDF)
• Colorado Facts (PDF)

 

Data and Information

The following resources are for communities to use to support their efforts in improving system integration and service delivery for young children with social and emotional issues and their families.

• Quick Facts
  • National Data
  • Colorado Data
• Links to other websites
• References

 

Strategies

Strategies, tips, and tools to impact policy & systems change are available for communities to:

• Educate and Inform Policy Makers
  • Meeting with Your Elected Officials and Testimony (PDF)
  • Involving Families in Policy Work (PDF)
• Get the Word Out Through the Media
  • Public Service Announcements (PDF)
  • Letters to the editor (PDF)
  • Drop-In Articles and Op-Eds (PDF)
  • Media Alerts and News Releases (PDF)
  • Press Conferences and Media Interviews (PDF)
• Increase Community Awareness: Activities and Materials
  • In the Community (PDF)