State Leader Survey for State agency staff, program administrators who oversee multiple sites or a region, licensing consultants, researchers, and evaluators

Thank you for being here, and for the work you do every day with young children and families.

When young children feel safe, connected, and understood, they are better able to learn, grow, and thrive. The first five years of life build the foundation for everything that comes after — how children handle stress, form relationships, and show up ready to learn. The adults around them make all the difference.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The need for social-emotional support is real. Across Michigan and the country, young children are struggling with big feelings and challenging behaviors, especially children who have experienced stress or trauma. Preschoolers are expelled at roughly three times the rate of K–12 students, and children of color and children with disabilities are disproportionately affected. Expulsion rates are lowest where teachers have ongoing access to a behavioral or mental health consultant (Gilliam, 2015).

In most cases, this happens not because of the child, but because the adults around them do not yet have the tools and support they need.

Supporting the adult is one of the most powerful ways to support the child and family. When we invest early, we can prevent many challenges before they become harder and costlier to address later.

ABOUT THIS SURVEY

This survey is part of Michigan's Preschool Development Grant (PDG), a federal grant focused on strengthening early childhood systems. It is a partnership between MiLEAP, Michigan's Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

The survey focuses on social-emotional supports for children from birth to age 5, including services like Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC).

We want to understand what supports are available across Michigan right now, what is working, what is missing, and what the workforce needs. Your responses will be combined with others to find patterns and make real recommendations for strengthening support across the state.

This project was made possible by grant number 90TP0138. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

TIME	About 20 minutes. You can save your progress and come back later.
PRIVACY	Your individual responses are confidential and will never be shared or reported in a way that identifies you or your program.
DATA USE	All results are combined and reported as group data only.
THANK YOU	At the end you will be offered a link to enter a raffle for one of ten $15 Biggby Coffee gift cards. That form is completely separate from this survey, so your answers here are never connected to your name.
QUESTIONS	Contact Mary Mackrain at mackrainm@michigan.gov or 248-739-1414.

Key terms

Social-emotional supports

The tools, training, coaching, and relationships that help the adults in young children's lives, such as teachers, caregivers, home visitors, family members, build children's ability to get along with others, handle big feelings, and learn. These supports are preventive: they build skills and resilience before a child is in crisis, not just after a problem has developed.

IECMHC: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

A specific type of preventive support. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) is a way to support both young children and the adults who care for them. A mental health consultant partners with caregivers in places where young children learn and grow, such as child care, preschool, home visiting, early intervention, and at home.

IECMHC is not therapy, and it is not about "fixing" children. Instead, it helps adults better understand children's social and emotional needs, strengthen their relationships with children and families, and feel more confident in responding to everyday challenges.

You may not know whether your program currently has access to IECMHC, and that is completely okay. Several questions ask about your awareness as well as your access. Just answer based on what you know.

The Pyramid Model

A teaching framework used in early childhood programs to support social and emotional development. Think of it as building a foundation: first, nurturing relationships and safe environments for every child; then targeted activities that teach social skills; and finally individualized support for children who need more help.

Reflective supervision or consultation

A regular, protected conversation with a supervisor or consultant where you can pause, reflect, and think together about your work. It provides a supportive space to explore relationships, celebrate successes, work through challenges, manage stress, and consider what children and families may be communicating through their behavior.

Warm handoff

A direct, supported connection to another service, such as making the call together with a family, or introducing them to the person they will be working with, rather than handing over a phone number.

MI-AIMH

The Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health, which offers the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement, a credential recognizing training and experience in this field.