The Maternal, Infant and Toddler Mental Health Advocacy Project, funded through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is a national initiative seeking to address the impact of maternal depression and infant and toddler mental health on early learning and development and later school readiness. This project seeks to raise awareness of the scope of mental health problems; offer concrete opportunities for prevention, screening and referral; and strongly advocate for the expansion of mental health outreach activities and services.

Docs For Tots has launched Docs For Tots Florida to support this project. Visit the Docs For Tots Florida website where you will find Florida-specific information and opportunities.

Statement of Need

Approximately 6 million pregnancies occur each year in the United States. Of these 6 million pregnancies, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 780,000 (13%) of postpartum women experience depression. Maternal depression significantly impacts a woman's ability to nurture her infant or toddler, and impacts the overall quality of family life. Additionally, the National Mental Health Association supports that many children and families are affected by mental health problems and at any given time:

• One in five children and adolescents may have a mental health problem;
• At least 1 in 10, or as many of 6 million young people, may have a serious emotional disturbance;
• An estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need.

Maternal, infant and toddler mental health problems are real, common and treatable. Although one in five children has a diagnosable mental health problem, nearly two-thirds of them get little or no help. Untreated mental health problems can disrupt mother and child functioning at home, school and in the community. Without treatment or prevention of maternal, infant and toddler mental health issues, children are at risk of learning and development problems and school failure in the early years, depedence on social services, and even suicide.

It is for these reasons that Docs For Tots is implementing the Maternal, Infant and Toddler Mental Health Advocacy Project to actively engage in public education, parent advocacy, and coaltion building efforts for maternal, infant and toddler mental health issues; and foster an environment for thriving healthy families and optimal child development for early cognitive learning.

To learn more about the project's site-specific work, please visit the Docs For Tots Florida website.