Transforming, Linking, and Caring (TLC) Project

• Transforming America's mental health system
• Linking resources to enhance healthy development of children and families
• Caring, with others, to create a life in the community for everyone!

The Purpose, Process and Partners of the TLC Project

The Transforming, Linking and Caring (TLC) Project was a pilot project funded and supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) during FY 03 and FY 04.  The purpose of the TLC project was to examine opportunities to: minimize fragmentation and gaps in services and help children and youth succeed in school and in life by aligning and linking children's mental health services and supports across the spectrum of promotion, prevention, early intervention and treatment.

The National Technical Assistance Center for Childrens Mental Health's role in the TLC Project was to provide consultation to the SAMHSA/CMHS for overall coordination of the TLC project;including planning and implementation of TLC Institutes in three geographic regions of the Country.  A geo-mapping process identified clusters of SAMHSA/CMHS child and family grant programs across a continuum of mental health services in three geographic areas: an urban area (New York City, New York), a rural area (Willmar, Minnesota), and a suburban/rural /blended area (Troutdale (near Portland), Oregon.  In partnership, SAMHSA/CMHS and the National TA Center provided facilitated discussion formats to groups of grantee representatives, families, youth and other local stakeholders.  National organizational partners included: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, the National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and the IDEA Partnership.

Lessons Learned

The TLC project helped to inform policy and program decisions at the SAMHSA/CMHS Federal level.  Some of the key lessons focused on:

• The value of cross grantee linkages along a continuum of mental health services and supports;
• An understanding of the needs for additional awareness and understanding of public health concepts; and
• Strategies and concrete opportunities for collaboration and partnerships across grant programs at the local/regional levels.

Throughout all project activities, there was a strong emphasis on the role of families and youth and on cultural and linguistic competence.  Families and youth participated at each TLC Institute and provided a strong voice for increased linkages across SAMHSA/CMHS and other federal grant programs.  They also reinforced the value of a public health approach as a key to mental health transformation.

Outcomes of the TLC Project

The TLC Project represented a federal collaboration among two divisions and three branches of SAMHSA/CMHS.  Through the project's effective implementation and a program evaluation that included and initial baseline and post Institute analysis, the outcomes of the TLC project include:  

• A model for effective federal collaboration and implementation;
• The infusion of TLC concepts/principles (particularly cross grantee linkages and increased alignment across programs into SAMHSA solicitations;
• A significant increase in linkages across grantees that participated in the project (from the initial baseline to the post Institute analysis); and
• An identified need for increased understanding about the integration of public health approaches with mental health.

Follow-up Activities and Additional Information

In follow-up to the TLC Project, the National TA Center has provided numerous trainings and roundtable forums on mental health and a public health approach.  For additional information on this project and related topics, contact Joyce K. Sebian, MS Ed. and she may be reached at 202 687-8245 or jks29@georgetown.edu or go to:

• TLC Brochure
• TLC Power Point
• Public Health Approach
• National TA Center, Topic Conference call July, 2005