An Effective Upstream MH System Must Include Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH). 

IECMH needs to be the core foundation of Hawai‘i’s MH system, embedded in a lifespan model of care that prevents and mitigates crisis, reduces generational trauma, and promotes resilient families and communities. 

An upstream MH system is not a luxury—it’s a must have.

If Hawai‘i is serious about prevention, equity, and wellbeing, then we must invest in the earliest years and ensure that every child grows up with the support needed for a lifetime of mental wellness.

To build a strong, lifelong mental health (MH) system, Hawai‘i should:

Integrate IECMH services into the continuum of care,

Continue building workforce capacity,

Develop shared infrastructure,

Expand community-based prevention programs,

Elevate family voice and cultural wisdom in system design,

Integrate IECMH as a foundational piece of the Trauma-Informed Care and Resilience movement across Hawai’i Nei

The statewide Promising Minds Provider survey gathered insights from more than 300 pediatric, primary care, and mental health providers caring for children ages zero through five. Through this effort, we were able to collect critical data on the current state of mental health services for young keiki in Hawai‘i and gaps in care. 

Trauma-Informed Care: A Request for Your Support

Consider legislation that promotes trauma-informed practices across state agencies and service providers; and reduces re-traumatization by protecting against dynamics that may replicate trauma.

Advocate for policies that strengthen holistic well-being, disrupt collective and intergenerational cycles of harm, prevent and heal trauma, and build resiliency for Hawai'i's people from infancy and early childhood through adulthood.

Support funding for research on trauma and effective trauma-informed interventions.

Version 2.1, Updated February 2025

This Integrated Infant and Early Childhood Behavioral Health (IECBH) Plan proposes to integrate child and family mental health and trauma-informed care into our health and early care and learning systems throughout Hawaiʻi. This integration will create an intentionally aligned child and family-serving system that promotes school readiness and family success. This plan outlines a way to move forward with shared goals and actions progressing over multiple years. It provides a path for organizations and individuals to collectively work towards creating equitable systems of care that reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities, ultimately ensuring that all children succeed in school and life.