Joyce K Sebian, Ms Ed, 3307 M St. NW, Georgetown University, National TA Center for Children's Mental Health, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007, Michele Edwards, MA ACSW, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rm. 17C-05, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-443-7713, medwards@samhsa.gov, and Yumi Lee, MPP, National TA Center for Children's Mental Health, Georgetown University, 3307 M St. NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007.

The President's New Freedom Commission calls for a public health approach to delivering mental health services; specifically, the promotion of social-emotional health and the prevention, early intervention and treatment of mental disorders in children. Many States and Communities as well as SAMHSA/CMHS are embracing a public health approach to children's mental health services. What do we really mean when we talk about efforts to promote the healthy development of all children and youth through a broad continuum of coordinated mental health services and supports? What can be learned from existing efforts? What does this continuum look like?

Participants will learn about how the SAMHSA/CMHS Transforming, Linking, and Caring Project (TLC) has engaged 3 geographic regions in a strategic process to assess, plan and initiate linkages across SAMHSA grant programs towards the development of a public health model for children's mental health services. The TLC Project aims to develop a model(s) that will serve to guide the design and implementation of effective public health approaches for children's mental health. Lessons learned and next steps will be discussed.

There will be a brief presentation of the TLC project, lessons learned, and next steps. Presenters will facilitate a lively and interactive discussion. Participants will share perspectives and experiences that will help further the thinking with the public health field in understanding the interface between public health and children's mental health services. Materials and information will be provided to inform participants following the presentation/conference.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will become familiar with the TLC Project, a SAMHSA/CMHS activity that is consistent with the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.
• Discuss lessons learned at the federal level through TLC collaboration across CMHS.
• Examine the outcomes of the TLC project and how Regions plan to address the blending of children's mental health continuum with a public health approach.
• Examine emerging issues in the field of mental health and public health and how they interface to promote social and emotional well-being, and prevention, early interention and treatment of mental disorder in children.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.