Maine Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP)

ECCP LogoThe Maine Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP®) is an infant and early childhood mental health consultation program that addresses the social-emotional needs of children birth to age eight (0-8) by offering support, education, and consultation to the adults who provide care for them.

ECCP® provides strategies, support, and training to improve the capacity of early childhood education and childcare providers as they work with children who have challenging behaviors or social-emotional concerns. ECCP® also incorporates brief consultation to families (including resource families) of children referred for support through the child’s early childhood education setting.

ECCP® is an evidence-based model with rigorous research support. ECCP® was initially implemented in five (5) pilot sites Statewide beginning January 2021 and expanded to eight (8) pilot sites in May 2021. The eight (8) initial pilot sites were: Aroostook, Androscoggin, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Penobscot, Washington, and York counties. The Maine ECCP® program expanded statewide after January 2023 to include Franklin, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, and Waldo counties.

 

On this page: 

Services

ECCP® is a time-limited, intensive service that helps providers, educators, and caregivers of young children build understanding and skills to respond to the social-emotional needs of children. Experienced mental health consultants work directly with caregivers and educators to identify and implement strategies to support children’s emotional wellbeing and effectively manage challenging behavior that may jeopardize a child’s ability to attend an early childhood program or educational setting.

Services may last anywhere from 6 weeks to 14 weeks. Specific consultation topics may include:

  • Managing aggressive behavior in children
  • Creating age-appropriate behavioral expectations
  • Creating a positive classroom or program culture
  • Improving responsiveness of adults to meet the needs of children
  • Supporting staff to build effective partnerships with families

Core Classroom Services

Core Classroom Services focus on a single classroom that may need to strengthen social, emotional, or behavioral supports for children throughout the class. The ECCP® consultant provides intensive, weekly support and coaching to the teaching staff or childcare provider with the goal of building capacity to better meet the social-emotional needs of the classroom.

Length of Service:

  • Weekly for 12 weeks

Service Components:

  • Meetings with teacher(s) and program director to discuss program needs, strengths, and goals
  • Classroom observation at beginning and conclusion of the service
  • Development of individualized classroom ECCP® Action Plan that outlines classroom/teacher strengths and strategies to be used in the classroom
  • Weekly support and consultation with ECCP® Consultant for staff
  • One staff development training for staff of the entire center on a social-emotional topic
  • Consultation to the program director/administration by the ECCP® Consultant
  • Follow-up with ECCP® Consultant to monitor progress
  • Includes up to two (2) Child-Specific Services for children in the classroom who meet criteria for the service

Family Child Care Provider Services

ECCP® offers a specialized version of the Core Classroom Service designed for the unique needs and environment of the home-based child care provider. The ECCP® consultant offers practical strategies to develop skills in helping children express emotions, managing peer dynamics, and responding effectively to challenging behaviors. Weekly onsite support and coaching is provided to staff.

Length of Service:

  • Weekly for nine weeks

Service Components:

  • Service Components
  • Meetings with program owner/director to discuss program needs, strengths, and goals
  • Program observation at beginning and conclusion of the service to identify strengths and goals
  • Development of individualized program ECCP® Action Plan that outlines practical strategies to be used
  • Three support visits with ECCP® Consultant to support use of the Action Plan
  • Individualized resources and tools provided to the program as needed to support the Action Plan. Examples include visual schedules, feelings charts, books,
  • Follow-up with ECCP® Consultant to monitor progress.

Child-Specific Services

Child-Specific Services focus on a young child who is struggling with social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties in their early education or childcare setting. The ECCP® consultant meets with the family and the educator/caregiver, conducts a home and classroom observation to identify the child’s strengths and needs, recommends specific strategies to meet the child’s needs, and facilitates referrals to more intensive services, if needed.

Length of Service:

  • Weekly for 6 weeks

Service Components:

  • Meetings between parent(s) and teachers/caregivers to better understand the child’s strengths and challenges
  • Standardized behavior screenings conducted at service beginning and end to assess progress
  • Development of an individualized ECCP ® Action Plan for the child that outlines specific strengths and strategies to be tried in the classroom and at home
  • Observation of the child in their early learning environment and in the home
  • Weekly support visits with the ECCP® consultant to coach and model strategies
  • Referrals and referral assistance
  • Follow-up with ECCP® consultant to monitor progress

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How to Access Services

ECCP® services are provided at no cost to families and early care and education providers. Services are provided by licensed, master’s-level mental health clinicians who are employed by licensed mental health agencies. Consultants receive comprehensive training and ongoing supervision in ECCP® and mental health consultation.

Who Can Make a Referral?

Referrals for Core Classroom Services may be made by the center/program director, manager, owner, or teacher. Referrals for Child-Specific Services can be made by parents, providers, teachers, or program directors. The Child-Specific Service is completely voluntary, and the child’s family must provide consent for the service

Reasons to Refer

Core Classroom Services: ECCP® is ideal for programs interested in improving behavior management in the classroom; improving the social and emotional tone of the classroom; enhancing partnerships between and among teachers, parents and administrators; and obtaining hands-on and practical strategies to support the social and emotional needs of the children in their care.

Child-Specific Services: ECCP® may be helpful for children experiencing mild anxiety, behavioral challenges (e.g., biting, hitting, etc.), difficulty with attention, poor social skills, or is at risk of suspension or expulsion from their childcare setting may be referred. A child may also be experiencing a stressful event such as the birth of a sibling, parental separation, loss of a family member, or a community stressor such as a storm, flood, etc.

Making a Referral:

If you are interested in receiving services, please contact the ECCP® Consultant in your county:

County Town Coverage Consultant Phone  Email Agency
Androscoggin Auburn, Durham, Greene, Leeds, Lewiston, Lisbon Falls, Lisbon, Livermore, Mechanic Falls, Minot, Poland, Sabattus, Turner, Wales Laura Ingalls (207) 814-0115 lingalls@comcareme.org Community Care
Aroostook Ashland, Blaine, Caribou, Connor Twp, Dyer, Easton Brook, Fort Fairfield, Fort Kent, Frenchville, Houlton, Island Falls, Limestone, Madawaska, Mapleton, Mars Hill, Presque Isle, Sherman, St. David, Vanburen, Washburn, Woodland Stacy Price (207) 624-7991 eccpprogram.dhhs@maine.gov Community Health & Counseling Services
Cumberland Brunswick, Casco, Chebeague Island, Cumberland Foreside, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gray, Harpswell, New Gloucester, North Yarmouth, Peaks Island, Portland, Pownal, Raymond, South Casco South Freeport, Westbrook, Windham, Yarmouth April Davis (207) 814-0210 adavis@comcareme.org Community Care
Cumberland Bridgton, Cape Elizabeth, Gorham, Harrison, Naples, North Bridgton, Saco, Scarborough, Sebago, South Portland, Standish, West Baldwin Hannah Kohler (207) 814-0342 hkohler@comcareme.org Community Care
Franklin Carrabassett Valley, Chesterville, Farmington, Freeman Township, Jay, Kingfield, New Sharon, Rangeley, Wilton  Danielle Lambert (207) 852-7148 dlambert@comcareme.org Community Care
Hancock Bar Harbor, Blue Hill, Bucksport, Castine, Dedham, Deer Isle, Ellsworth, Franklin,  Hancock, LaMoine, Northeast Harbor, Orland, Penobscot, Sedgwick, Southwest Harbor, Surry, Swans Island, Trenton Amanda McLaughlin (207) 479-6012 amclaughlin@sun-rise.org Sunrise Opportunities
Kennebec Albion, Augusta, Belgrade, Benton, Chelsea, China, Clinton, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, Kents Hill, Litchfield, Manchester, Monmouth, North Monmouth, Oakland, Pittston, Randolph, Rome, Sidney, South China, South Gardiner, Vassalboro, Waterville, Wayne, West Gardiner, Windsor, Winslow, Winthrop Susan Brousseau (207) 922-4600 x 6010 sbrousseau@chcs-me.org Community Health & Counseling Services
Knox (northern) Appleton, Camden, Hope, North Haven, Rockport, Washington, Union Carolyn Wills-Barberi (207) 852-6937 CWillsBarberi@comcareme.org Community Care
Knox (southern) Friendship, Owls Head, Rockland, South Thomaston, Spruce Head, St. George, Thomaston, Vinalhaven, Warren Jennifer Orcutt (207) 852-5111 jorcutt@comcareme.org Community Care
Lincoln Boothbay harbor, Boothbay, Bristol, Damariscotta, Dresden, Edgecomb, Jefferson, Newcastle, Nobleboro, Somerville, Waldoboro, Whitefield, Wiscasset Jennifer Orcutt (207) 852-5111 jorcutt@comcareme.org Community Care
Oxford Buckfield, Canton, Dixfield, Hartford, Hebron,   Mexico, Minot, Peru, Rumford, Sumner Danielle Lambert (207) 852-7148 dlambert@comcareme.org Community Care
Oxford Norway, Oxford, Paris, South Paris, West Paris Laura Ingalls (207) 814-0115 lingalls@comcareme.org Community Care
Penobscot & Piscataquis Bangor, Bradford, Bradley, Brewer, Brownville, Carmel, Charleston, Corinna, Corinth, Dexter, Dover Foxcroft, East Millinocket, Eddington, Glenburn, Greenville, Greenville Junction, Guilford, Hampden, Hermon, Holden, Indian Sland, Kenduskeag, Levant, Lincoln, Lincolnville, Milford, Millinocket, Milo, Newburgh, Newport, Old Town, Orono, Orrington, Patten, Plymouth, Sangerville, Veazie Denea Llerena (207) 951-2528 DLlerena@comcareme.org Community Care
Sagadahoc Georgetown, Bowdoinham, Woolwich, Richmond, Bowdoin, Bath, Topsham Jennifer Orcutt (207) 852-5111 jorcutt@comcareme.org Community Care
Somerset Anson, Canaan, Cornville, Fairfield, Hartland, Jackman, Madison, Moscow, Norridgewock, Palmyra, Pittsfield, Saint Albans, Skowhegan, Solon, St. Albans Keera Allen (207) 881-3105 kallen@comcareme.org Community Care
Waldo Belfast, Belmont, Brooks, Frankfort, Freedom, Islesboro, Knox, Liberty, Lincolnville, Monroe, Morrill, Palermo, Searsmont, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Thorndike, Troy, Unity, Waldo, Winterport Carolyn Wills-Barberi (207) 852-6937 CWillsBarberi@comcareme.org Community Care
Washington Baileyville, Calais, Cherryfield, Columbia Falls, Danforth, East Machias, Harrington, Jonesboro, Lubec, Machias, Marshfield, Milbridge, Pembroke, Perry, Princeton Valerie Renshaw (207) 263-8884 vrenshaw@sun-rise.org Sunrise Opportunities
York (coastal) Arundel, Biddeford, Eliot, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Kittery Point, Ogunquit
Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Wells, York, York Harbor		 Kate Sullivan (207) 852-0257 ksullivan@comcareme.org Community Care
York (western) Acton, Alfred, Berwick, Buxton, Dayton, East Waterboro, Hollis, Hollis Center, Lebanon, Limerick, Limington, Lyman, North Berwick, Parsonsfield, Sanford, Shapleigh, South Berwick, Springvale, Waterboro Alisa Winnie (207) 852-6867 awinnie@comcareme.org Community Care

For general information or inquiries, please contact:

  • Office of Child & Family Services
  • 2 Anthony Avenue
  • 11 State House Station
  • Augusta, ME 04333
  • eccpprogram.dhhs@maine.gov
  • Ph: (207) 624-7991
  • Toll free: 1-877-680-5866

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Partnerships

The Maine ECCP® program is funded and managed by the State of Maine, Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS).

ECCP® was developed by Advanced Behavioral Health (ABH) in Middletown, Connecticut. ABH manages the ECCP® proprietary integrated data system (EIS), provides training in the model to Maine ECCP® Consultants, and supports fidelity monitoring to ensure ECCP® Consultants adhere to the program structure.

Maine ECCP® Provider Agencies: OCFS contracts with the following licensed mental health agencies to provide ECCP® services throughout the state.

  • Community Care: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Cumberland, Franklin, Knox (northern), Knox (southern), Lincoln, Oxford, Oxford, Penobscot & Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, York, (coastal), York (western)
  • Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS): Aroostook county, Kennebec county
  • Sunrise Opportunities: Washington county, Hancock county

Resources

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