Researchers recently examined the impact of the Jump Start infant and early childhood mental health consultation program on exclusionary discipline practices across 270 early care and education centers in Miami-Dade County. Using retrospective center-level data from 2022–2025, the study found statistically significant reductions in both traditional suspensions/expulsions and “soft expulsions” (practices that push children out informally) following program participation. The findings underscore the promise of mental health consultation in reducing harmful exclusionary discipline practices.

Pennsylvania provides assistance to families and early learning programs through the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program (IECHM), a statewide implementation of IECMH Consultation which supports the early childhood system workforce in promoting the social and emotional development of infants, toddlers, and very young children.