Early childhood mental health (ECMH) services are relationship-based since infants and young children depend on parents/family/care-takers to provide for their basic survival needs and their social emotional health. ECMH is defined by ZERO TO THREE as the "social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children birth through five and their families, including the developing capacity to experience, regulate and express emotion; form close, secure relationships; and explore the environment and learn." Project Forum collaborated with TACSEI (Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention), CSEFEL (Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning) and the National TA Center (National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health) to develop a series of interview questions for four components of an ECMH system and to select interviewees in four states. Collaborators identified states with high quality systems for each of the four component areas. Each of the four states has a governor's initiative and/or partnership focused on statewide early childhood mental health. Underlying themes for the four components explored were collaboration, the importance of families and a relationship-based approach to services, the need for qualified and specialized professionals, and the need for proactive support rather than reactive intervention. ECMH is an important aspect of not only a mental health, but also an education system. Appropriate social emotional development and mental health is a contributing factor to a child's well-being and ability to learn and succeed in school. Some states are emphasizing and prioritizing ECMH, but an organized collaborative statewide system and federal support would prove beneficial to not only the young children and their families who need services, but also to all children and professionals in the education system. Appended are: (1) Acronym Descriptions; (2) List of Interviewees; and (3) Lead Agencies. (Contains 34 footnotes.)