Emerging from the pandemic, an openness to “doing things differently,” coupled with a greater awareness of the need to pursue a health-equity agenda, means that there may never be a better time to adopt these principles and build the early childhood mental health service system that children need. Rising levels of mental health issues among young children, adolescents, and adults suggest that early childhood mental health is not receiving sufficient attention. Soaring levels of child, parent, and family-based emotional behavioral struggles have led to increasing rates of unmet needs for children with psychiatric illness. Stronger financial incentives are needed to promote broad adoption of interventions aiming to optimize early childhood mental health, including increased reimbursement rates for early relational and mental health promotion in standard pediatric practices. This model has the flexibility to respond to emergent concerns regarding the mental health of parents, children, and the entire family.
Master’s-level consultants delivered predominantly classroom-level and program-level services, along with some child- and family-focused consultation, in each child care center for hours a week. EI providers and IECMHCs report needing support in the area in which the other has expertise, and both are interested in building the capacity of adults in the lives of young children (e.g., parents/caregivers, educators, or other providers). Through 88 ways to get mental health support consultative relationships and IECMH activities, EI staff can build greater capacity to work with caregivers and children in culturally responsive, reflective, and supportive ways, aligning more closely with the intended outcomes for children and families. The existing literature on IECMHC largely focuses on early childhood settings, particularly within ECE contexts (center-based, family childcare, and home-based), rather than in EI programs.
Furthermore, in addition to links between coparenting, relationship satisfaction and child outcomes, Feinberg and colleagues have also shown that targeting the coparenting relationship can have a positive impact on parental mental health (Feinberg and Kan, 2008; Feinberg et al., 2016). Coparenting is defined as the degree to which parents are able to work together harmoniously for the wellbeing of their children (Le et al., 2016). In fact, a decline in relationship satisfaction can act as a risk factor for the development of mental health difficulties (Lancaster et al., 2010; Whisman et al., 2011; Giallo et al., 2013; Bayrampour et al., 2015). In addition to the development of mental health difficulties, many couples also experience a sharp decline in their couple relationship during the transition to parenthood (Lawrence et al., 2008; Doss et al., 2009). These findings suggest that maternal mentalizing capacity plays an important role in promoting infant and child emotional regulation, especially in the context of difficult early childhood experiences (Camoirano, 2017).
Warning Signs Your Postpartum Depression Screening Might Miss (A Parent’s Guide)
Trainings for ECE providers focused on social-emotional skills Trauma-informed programs for parents and professionals Home-based family resiliency training for military families Screening and referrals, relationship-building between schools and mental health providers We note which programs are supported by MHSA and/or First 5 funding sources, though programs may have other funding sources as well. However, additional policy changes are needed to ensure that the unique and critical needs of infants, toddlers and young children are addressed.
Advancing Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health One Relationship at a Time
Infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) is a multi-level intervention that aims to build the capacity of early childhood programs to meet the needs of young children, their families, other caregivers, and staff within their programs 8,9. As a baby grows through infancy, toddlerhood and the preschool years, healthy, nurturing relationships with parents and caregivers lay the foundation for all future social and emotional development, also known as infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH). The IECMHC Network’s consultation services are designed to build the capacity of program staff and providers to foster the developmental, social, and emotional health and well-being of young children in their care. Early childhood programs use infant and early childhood mental health consultation (IECMHC) to help staff, families, and children.
- Initially, COS was designed as a 20-session weekly group-intervention intended to enhance parental ability to interpret child cues (Yaholkoski et al., 2016), however, a shorter 8-session version (COS-P) has also been created, with the same key components and aims as the original version (Cooper et al., 2009).
- IECMHC has been identified as a way to address rates of suspension and expulsion as it is an evidence-based practice to improve children’s social-emotional well-being.34 35 Research suggests IECMHC reduces challenging behaviors and improves social skills and self-regulation among children.
- Always follow up after these conversations to show continued support and maintain trust.
- Across the world, 10–20% of children and adolescents suffer from mental health disorders (Kessler et al., 2007).
- Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Early Intervention (Part C) details policies and practices for supporting the social and emotional development and mental health of infants and toddlers in the context of parent-child relationships.
- Find other resources that can support you in providing infant-early childhood mental health services.
They can provide valuable insights into a child’s emotional well-being and any challenges they may be facing at home. Create open communication with families, parents or guardians. Use art, playacting and stories to further demonstrate healthy emotional expression.