Early Childhood Mental Health Services and First S

Early Childhood Mental Health Services and First Steps : 

Early Childhood Mental Health Services and First Steps Indiana Association for Infant and Toddler Mental Health Mental Health Task Force

Early Childhood Mental Health : 

Early Childhood Mental Health What is ECMH? Why is ECMH important? What MH services are provided in First Steps? When are MH services needed? Who provides services? What can families expect? How are referrals made?

Experiences with MH Services : 

Experiences with MH Services First Thoughts? Different kinds of providers? Experiences? Made a referral? How would it feel? Hesitation about referrals?

MH True and False : 

MH True and False Babies cannot experience emotional distress Young children will not remember traumatic events Emotional and behavioral problems of young children will always be outgrown. There are no methods for treating emotional concerns in young children

Early Childhood Mental Health : 

Early Childhood Mental Health Babies and toddlers can experience: Emotional distress Problems with early relationships Behavior difficulties Atypical development

ECMH : 

ECMH Tommy Charlie Caroline Valerie Steven

ECMH : 

ECMH These experiences justify the need for MH interventions MH interventions can be successful First Steps providers can help recognize when families need intervention and help them access services

What is ECMH? : 

What is ECMH? A broad term that encompasses: Theory Research Clinical practice

Early Childhood Mental Health : 

Early Childhood Mental Health Three basic concepts A positive outcome for infants Identifying what leads to positive outcomes Clinical assessment, treatment, and prevention

In the first few years of life… : 

In the first few years of life… Mental health should be understood within the context of social and emotional development… Meaning, the child’s ways of establishing positive relationships In order to support emotional regulation, well defined sense of self

Early Childhood Mental Health : 

Early Childhood Mental Health Provides a frameworkto support parents,children, and theirrelationships...through the relationshipsthat are developedbetween the provider and the family

Early Childhood Mental Health : 

Early Childhood Mental Health Babies are social creatures who need meaningful emotional experiences Some families need help to attain positive emotional experiences and interactions

Early Childhood Mental Health : 

Early Childhood Mental Health Promote positive relationships between infants and toddlers and important adults Become socially competent through these relationships Know how to have other positive relationships Manage unpleasant feelings and impulses

ECMH and EI : 

ECMH and EI Shared philosophies Emotional and behavioralconcerns can hinder the child’s overall development and/orprogress in intervention MH providers can supportthe work of EI specialists

What services are available? : 

What services are available? Specialized Individual and Family Counseling/Psychological Services Social Work

What kinds of providers? : 

What kinds of providers? Families will choose a provider Experience with the age group more important than specific degree Providers include psychologist, social workers, and LMHC

Psychological Services : 

Psychological Services Individual and family counseling Testing and other assessments Consultation around child development Parent training

Social Work : 

Social Work Individual and family counseling Group counseling

Mental Health Provider Training : 

Mental Health Provider Training Social Workers Master’s degree License (LCSW) Supervised Internship

Psychologist : 

Psychologist School Psychologist Master’s or Doctorate Private Practice Endorsement Supervised Internship

Psychologist : 

Psychologist Health Service Provider in Psychology Doctorate in applied area of psychology License Supervised Internship

Licensed Mental Health Counselor : 

Licensed Mental Health Counselor Master’s Degree License Supervised Internship

When are services needed? : 

When are services needed? Consider: Infant/toddler behaviors Parent behaviors Family situations Recent transitions

When are services needed? : 

When are services needed? Infant (0 to 1 year) social and emotional characteristics that may signal the need for MH assessment: Excessive crying (colicky, cries more than 3 hours in 24 hrs) Sleep disturbance Feeding disorders Extreme stranger anxiety Won’t cuddle

When are services needed? : 

When are services needed? No or limited eye contact No smiling Little or no social reciprocity (enjoyment of interactions with others) Muscular rigidity (freezing) Little emotion (rarely coos or babbles) Irritability related to mood dysregulation Sensory sensitivity (unusual sensitivity to sight, sound, and/or touch)

When are services needed? : 

When are services needed? Toddler (1 to 3 years) social and emotional characteristics that may signal the need for MH assessment: No or limited eye contact Significant sleeping problems (night terrors, wakes numerous times, difficulty settling at bed time) Eating problems Frustration with communication Continual thumb sucking

When are services needed? : 

When are services needed? Inability to separate from caregiver without extreme anxiety Severe temper tantrums or aggression Too social to unfamiliar adults Trouble attending to play or social activities Difficulty with transitions between activities Self injurious behaviors Tries to take care of parent Loss of skills in any developmental area

When are services needed? : 

When are services needed? Parent social and emotional characteristics that may signal the need for MH assessment: Parent looks sad and/or exceedingly tired Parent feels no joy regarding child Parent states feeling blue and overwhelmed Limited family support Parent has MH issues, cognitive limitations, or problems with addiction

When are services needed? : 

When are services needed? Family risk factors that, when combined with child concerns, may signal the need for MH assessment: Violence in home Drug/alcohol use in home Family economic stress Chaotic or stressful home environment Low socio-economic status/poverty

When are services needed? : 

When are services needed? Multiple moves or changes in placement Young parent/single parent Child abuse or neglect/CPS involvement Sibling issues Parental discord around child's developmental differences, acceptance, treatment, and family responses (nuclear and extended)

Activity : 

Activity Vignettes Small Groups

What can families expect? : 

What can families expect? Assessment Parent Interview Observations of Child and Child with Family Play with Child Assessment Tools with Child or Family

What can families expect? : 

What can families expect? Treatment: Parent training Working with child + adult Less often direct treatment with child alone Services are available in the natural environment Co-Treatment with other provider

Making referrals : 

Making referrals There are NO rights or wrongs If a parent is concerned, refer Call us! Ask questions! The MH provider can help you know if this appropriate for First Steps or give you ideas about other community referral sources

Making referrals : 

Making referrals MH Provider will determine need for service with the Team Is the family “well” enough for intervention? Is the family situation too complex?

Making referrals : 

Making referrals Activity: Making Referrals What to say How to say it

Question and Answer : 

Question and Answer

Want to learn more? : 

Want to learn more? Indiana Association for Infant and Toddler Mental Health (mentalhealthassociation.com) 317/638-3501 EXT 221 Zero to Three (zerotothree.org) The Center for Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (csefel.uiuc.edu)

Early Childhood Mental Health Services and First Steps : 

Early Childhood Mental Health Services and First Steps Indiana Association for Infant and Toddler Mental Health Mental Health Task Force