May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Addressing and supporting mental health is an important part of promoting overall well-being for mothers, children, youth, families, and communities. This year's mental health month theme is #4Mind4Body and focuses on supporting mental health through animal companionship, recreation, spirituality, and social connection. Visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may to learn more.

At AMCHP, we are highlighting the work that MCH professionals are doing to promote mental health across the nation.

Check out the list of Innovation Station Practices below to learn more about a few of our mental health-related practices:

Moving Beyond Depression, Ohio (Best Practice, 2017)
Identifies, engages, and treats depressed mothers enrolled in home visiting and other early childhood prevention programs.
Massachusetts Partnership for Early Childhood Mental Health Integration: LAUNCH/MYCHILD/System of Care Model (Promising Practice, 2016)
An early childhood mental health model that integrates early childhood mental health services into pediatric primary care medical homes.
Urban Lotus Project, Nevada (Cutting-Edge Practice, 2016)
Trauma-Informed Yoga for youth and adolescents who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Promotes physical activity and provides stress reduction tools to high-risk youth.

Do you see a practice that you would like to replicate in your area? Get in touch with the project contact to learn about their challenges, successes, and how you can adapt the practice to fit your needs. If you decide to replicate all or part of the practice, visit our website to find out about opportunities to fund this work.

Are you also working to address mental health or other MCH issues? We have very few practices in this area and are looking for more! Share your practice with Innovation Station to receive recognition, help others learn from your great work, and make a difference in MCH. Learn more about AMCHP's practice categories and submission process here.

Have questions or want to learn more? Contact Lynda Krisowaty lkrisowaty@amchp.org or Alyssa Bosold abosold@amchp.org.