Despite mandates for Head Start programs to provide mental health services to families and children, considerable variability remains in the level and type of services provided by mental health consultants. A qualitative study was conducted to explore staff perceptions about the role of mental health consult- ants and, in particular; the ways in which consultants are (or are not) integrated into the day-to-day functioning of Head Start programs. Programs with integrated mental health models were characterized by strong positive relationships between consultants and program staff; perceptions that the consultant was "part of the team," and involvement of the consultant in a wide variety of program activities and components. Results suggested that programs with such an integrated mental health model were more likely (compared to those with a more traditional consultant model) to report a strong, unified vision for mental health services, to describe a mental health approach consistent with current promising practices, and to perceive their mental health services to be more effective. (Contains 2 tables and 4 footnotes.)