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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="9.5-116" title_number="9.5" title_name="Division of Early Childhood Development" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Established">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Community resources” includes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Judy Centers;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Patty Centers;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Head Start Centers;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Maryland Infant and Toddlers Program providers; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Other community stakeholders that serve children facing developmental, social, emotional, or behavioral health issues.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Initially eligible child” means a child under the age of 6 years who is enrolled in:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A family child care home or large family child care home, registered under Subtitle 3 of this title;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A child care center that, in accordance with Subtitle 4 of this title, is licensed, has a certificate of approval from the Department, or has been issued a letter of compliance; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A publicly funded full–day prekindergarten program under Title 7, Subtitle 1A of this article.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Potentially eligible child” means a child who is at least 6 years old and is enrolled in kindergarten, first grade, or second grade.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Program” means the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Support Services Program.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Support Services Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Program shall be administered by the Department.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Program is to promote positive mental and behavioral health practices for young children who may have developmental, social, emotional, or behavioral issues.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department may accept for enrollment in the Program:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Referrals from child care providers; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Self–referrals from families of initially eligible children.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Program shall aid children enrolled in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Referring children and families in need of intensive mental or behavioral health services to appropriate clinics or programs;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Training, coaching, and mentoring teachers and caregivers to address challenging behaviors;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Building partnerships with community resources;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Working to ensure children have stable, quality child care programs; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Awarding grants to carry out the Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>In implementing the Program, the Department may designate specific regions in the State and create unique approaches in each designated region.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>For fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $3,000,000 for the operation of the Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Department shall utilize additional available funding to support the Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If the Program is able to serve all initially eligible children and has funds remaining for the Program, the Department shall consider potentially eligible children who may have developmental, social, emotional, or behavioral issues for enrollment in the Program.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Department may accept for enrollment in the Program:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Referrals from child care providers; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Self–referrals from families of potentially eligible children.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Program shall aid children enrolled in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Referring children and families in need of intensive mental or behavioral health services to appropriate clinics or programs;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Training, coaching, and mentoring teachers and caregivers to address challenging behaviors;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Building partnerships with community resources; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Awarding grants to carry out the Program.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
