Establishing the Evidence Base

Establishing the Evidence Base

baby learning count

As state and community interest in ECMHC began to grow, a critical question emerged: “Is it effective?” A highly-publicized 2005 study by Yale Child Study Center researcher Walter Gilliam helped shed light on the answer, indicating that access to ECMHC significantly decreases the likelihood of expulsions from preschool programs. Further, researchers at Georgetown University and Portland State University conducted a thorough review and synthesis of the research on ECMHC, concluding that there is a growing body of evidence supporting the efficacy of ECMHC in producing positive outcomes for children, families, and ECE providers and programs (Brennan at al., 2008, Perry et al., in press). More specifically, the research suggests that consultation is effective in:

  • Reducing problematic behavior in young children;
  • Increasing young children’s social skills;
  • Decreasing expulsions from ECE settings;
  • Building behavior and classroom management skills of ECE providers;
  • Enhancing parent ability to manage problem behaviors; and
  • Reducing turnover in ECE staff.
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This product was developed [in part] under grant number 1H79SM082070-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.