Blue
Ribbon Policy Council for Early
Childhood
Mental Health
Healthy Minds, Strong Futures Policy Toolkit
Toolkit Sections:
- House Bill 1451
- Mental
Health Special Tax Districts
- Invest
in young children's social and
environmental development - Mental
health is fundamental to the overal
l health and well-being of young children
- Data
and Information
- Quick facts
- 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
- Educate
and inform policy makers
- 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
Supporting the mental health and social & emotional development of young children through
policy and systems change.About the Blue Ribbon Policy Council and its Policy Toolkit:
The Blue Ribbon Policy Council is a group of early childhood champions (click here for members) who use their knowledge and leadership to craft public policies and implementation strategies that support the emotional well-being of young children and their families. Because the Council wants to ensure that policy development is valuable at the local level, its recommendations and activities are tied to practical experience in communities.
The Blue Ribbon Policy Council for Early Childhood Mental Health is currently leading a strategic planning process to develop Colorado's Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Mental Health. Their goal is to present a functional draft to numerous stakeholders to obtain a solid commitment across the state to the strategies and outcomes identified in the Plan. For additional information regarding this strategic planning process, please contact:
Claudia Zundel, Division of Mental Health, 303-866-7528, Claudia.Zundel@state.co.us
Sarah Hoover, Project BLOOM, 303-315-2152, sarah.hoover@uchsc.edu
Tracy Kraft-Tharp, Kid Connects, 303-421-2787, tkth@aol.com
Penny Gonnella, Harambe, 303-692-2362, penny.gonnella@state.co.usThe Council developed the on-line Early Childhood Policy Toolkit to provide community leaders with the necessary tools and information to inform and motivate policy makers in taking action supportive of policy and system's change for young children and their families. Currently, there are opportunities, such as HB 1451 and Mental Health Special Districts, that communities can use to support these policy and funding changes for young children and their families.
The toolkit provides messages, data and information, and strategies on how to address the mental health and social / emotional development of young children through policy and systems change. It is divided into four sections:
- Colorado Opportunities;
- Key Messages;
- Resources; and
- Other Tips.
The toolkit is set up to allow communities to customize the information in order to meet their unique needs and circumstances. Speaking in one voice by consistently using the same message will be effective in promoting early childhood mental health and the social and emotional development of young children across this state.
The toolkit was developed by The Blue Ribbon Policy Council in partnership with the Colorado Division of Mental Health, Project BLOOM, Kid Connects, Harambe, and the Center for Systems Integration.
Intended Audiences
The toolkit's purpose is to provide community leaders with the necessary tools and information to inform and motivate policy makers in taking action supportive of policy and systems change for young children and their families. The toolkit's intended audiences therefore include:
- Government officials at the executive, management, and operations levels of agencies and organizations such as human services, public health, and schools.
- Elected officials such as county commissioners, school boards, and state legislators.
- General public, to gain their support to influence policy makers in making decisions affecting young children and their families.