Reducing Expulsion of Children from Child Care

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), Division of Mental Health Services to Children and Families, has developed an evaluated early childhood mental health consultation approach to providing prevention services that has been implemented for over 11 years.  This approach, called Child Care Expulsion Prevention (CCEP) ® has provided services within child care settings serving children birth up to age five.  These services have been found to be effective in supporting young children at risk of expulsion to stay in their care setting successfully and to help teacher's and families to foster social and emotional growth of all young children within their care. Specifically, evaluation results indicate that with CCEP services;

• Parenting stress was significantly lowered and parents were less likely to report disruptions at work/school due to child care problems.
• Child care providers were significantly better able to identify early warning signs of child problems and had more confidence in their ability to manage challenging behavior.
• Children's challenging behavior decreased significantly, with nearly half of children showing substantially fewer behavior problems.
• Children's pro-social behaviors increased significantly, with half of children evidencing considerably more self-control, social skills, and other positive behaviors.

This approach was developed by and administered statewide primarily through funds from the Department of Human Services and administration by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). In 2006, CCEP was added into the Michigan Department of Community Health Medicaid Provider Manual as a B-3 Prevention-Direct Service Model and in 2008, a few counties were awarded MDCH Block grant funds to pilot the CCEP model in their communities. 

Anyone interested in finding out more about how to develop and support the provision of early childhood mental health consultation using the CCEP name and approach need to contact the Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Mental Health Services to Children and Families and follow the quality guidelines set forth in the Child Care Expulsion Prevention (CCEP) Program Implementation Guide.  

Technical assistance and training on the CCEP approach is available from MDCH, Division of Mental Health Services to Children and Families.

If you have questions or comments about the Child Care Expulsion Prevention (CCEP) Program or the Implementation Guide please contact:

Mary Mackrain, M.Ed, Consultant

Mental Health Services to Children and Families

Michigan Department of Community Health

248-594-3250

mackrainm@michigan.gov