The Mental Health, Earlier (MHE) ALACRITY Research Center addresses a key element of the NIMH 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Strive for Prevention and Cures: advancing preventive interventions in a developmentally appropriate manner as early in life and illness course as possible, to prevent or forestall mental illnesses and associated dysfunction. This project also aims to advance goals of NIMH 2022-2031 Strategic Framework for Addressing Youth Mental Health Disparities: (a) accuracy of culturally appropriate diagnostic assessments, including risk calculators; and (b) translational research that includes community partners, using innovative assessments for developing prevention beginning in infancy. 

Our aims include:

1. Developing novel clinician and system-level strategies to advance equitable implementation of early mental health interventions in pediatric primary care, 
2. Addressing the unique needs of diverse communities for early mental health promotion via caregiver engagement strategies that are family-based, culturally-grounded, and accessible, and
3. Creating a scientific and workforce development program as a national resource for equitable implementation of early childhood mental health innovations in pediatric primary care.