AUCD's 12 Children's Mental Health Champions Complete Their Projects for the 2020-2021 Year

September 20, 2021

In 2020, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) expanded its National Center on Disability in Public Health efforts with the launch of a new pilot program, Children's Mental Health Champions. This effort was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twelve Champions were selected, representing American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Virginia, to serve as liaisons to the CDC's Children's Mental Health project in 2020-2021.

"Our goal is to expand the reach of evidence-based parenting prevention and intervention programs," says Dr. Adriane Griffen, AUCD's Senior Director of Public Health and Leadership. Champions provided timely support for children and their families as COVID-19 impacted school closures, suspended home visiting services, made pediatric visits virtual, and caused additional stress and financial insecurity. Champions developed state-specific work plans to implement effective strategies for mental health promotion, prevention supports, and the creation of networks (e.g., school, healthcare, and community) to promote better connections between these systems.

Learn about each of the Champions and their respective projects during the 2020-2021 cohort.