Estimating clinical heterogeneity directly using a person-oriented, developmental approach – one that chiefly considers variation between and within individuals and their contexts over time – has been fruitful for defining unique vulnerability to mental health problems. This discussion will focus on applications of these person-oriented approaches for actualizing the benefits of precision medicine across diverse communities. Specifically, I will outline methodological and computational approaches that can be helpful for 1) understanding how mental health vulnerability emerges early in development, 2) identifying ways that day to day interactions within the family system can be leveraged for promoting child mental health, 3) developing and disseminating translational tools for low- or no-cost, scalable mental health interventions with children and families across diverse communities.