--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 280h–6" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "280h–6" heading: "Infant and early childhood mental health promotion, intervention, and treatment" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/280h-6" units: - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service" - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties" - "Part Q — Programs To Improve the Health of Children" --- # §280h–6. Infant and early childhood mental health promotion, intervention, and treatment - (a) **Grants—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall— - (1) award grants to eligible entities to develop, maintain, or enhance infant and early childhood mental health promotion, intervention, and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including— - (A) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for infants and children at significant risk of developing, showing early signs of, or having been diagnosed with mental illness, including a serious emotional disturbance; and - (B) multigenerational therapy and other [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) that support the caregiving relationship; and - (2) ensure that [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) funded through grants under this section are evidence-informed or evidence-based models, [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), and methods that are, as appropriate, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and can be replicated in other appropriate settings. - (b) **Eligible children and entities—** In this section: - (1) **Eligible child—** The term “eligible child” means a child from birth to not more than 12 years of age who— - (A) is at risk for, shows early signs of, or has been diagnosed with a mental illness, including a serious emotional disturbance; and - (B) may benefit from infant and early childhood intervention or [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) or specialized preschool or elementary [school](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=6) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) that are evidence-based or that have been scientifically demonstrated to show promise but would benefit from further applied development. - (2) **Eligible entity—** The term “eligible entity” means a human [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) institution that— - (A) employs licensed mental health professionals who have specialized training and experience in infant and early childhood mental health assessment, diagnosis, and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), or is accredited or approved by the appropriate [State agency](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=12), as applicable, to provide for children from infancy to 12 years of age mental health promotion, intervention, or [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a); and - (B) provides [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) or [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [subsection (a)](#a) that are evidence-based or that have been scientifically demonstrated to show promise but would benefit from further applied development. - (c) **Application—** An eligible entity seeking a grant under [subsection (a)](#a) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may require. - (d) **Use of funds for early intervention and treatment programs—** An eligible entity may use amounts awarded under a grant under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1) to carry out the following: - (1) Provide age-appropriate mental health promotion and early intervention [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) or mental illness [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), which may include specialized [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), for eligible children at significant risk of developing, showing early signs of, or having been diagnosed with a mental illness, including a serious emotional disturbance. Such [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) may include social and behavioral [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) as well as multigenerational therapy and other [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) that support the caregiving relationship. - (2) Provide training for health care professionals with expertise in infant and early childhood mental health care with respect to appropriate and relevant integration with other disciplines such as primary care clinicians, early intervention specialists, child welfare staff, home visitors, early care and education [providers](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8), and others who work with young children and families. - (3) Provide mental health consultation to personnel of early care and education [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) (including licensed or regulated center-based and home-based child care, home visiting, preschool special education, and early intervention [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4)) who work with children and families. - (4) Provide training for mental health clinicians in infant and early childhood in promising and evidence-based [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) and models for infant and early childhood mental health [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) and early intervention, including with regard to [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for identifying and treating mental illness and behavioral disorders of infants and children resulting from exposure or repeated exposure to adverse childhood experiences or childhood [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4). - (5) Provide age-appropriate assessment, diagnostic, and intervention [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) for eligible children, including early mental health promotion, intervention, and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a). - (e) **Matching funds—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may not award a grant under this section to an eligible entity unless the eligible entity agrees, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the eligible entity in carrying out the activities described in [subsection (d)](#d), to make available non-Federal contributions (in cash or in kind) toward such costs in an amount that is not less than 10 percent of the total amount of Federal funds provided in the grant. - (f) **Technical assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may, directly or by awarding grants or contracts to public and private [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) entities, provide training and technical assistance to eligible entities to carry out activities described in [subsection (d)](#d). - (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. ## Source credit (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 399Z–2, as added Pub. L. 114–255, div. B, title X, § 10006, Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1267; amended Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title I, § 1402, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5699.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2022—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1402(2), added subsec. (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1402(1), (3), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g) and substituted “$50,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2027” for “$20,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2018 through 2022”.