Mental Health

Nearly one in every 10 children has a mental health concern. Increasingly, teachers are reporting that children are entering elementary school not socially-emotionally ready to learn.

What is an Early Childhood Mental Health System of Care?
An early childhood mental health system of care builds, in part, on the two decades of care efforts in states and communities focusing on older children and youth with serious emotional disorders. For children birth through five, the system of care is built upon a set of values that includes family and child-centered practice and policy, cultural and linguistic competence, and grounding in developmental knowledge. The system of care provides a cross-system, cross-agency infrastructure that sustains services and supports that:
• Promote positive mental health;
• Prevent mental health problems in children and families; and
• Intervene for children and families impacted by mental health disorders.
  1. National Technical Assistance for Children's Mental Health
  2. Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development

Resources for Families
1. ABCs (English and Spanish)
2. Here I am (Baby's emotions)
3. Understanding Children's Mental Health
4. Web sites
   • www.aboutourkids.org
   • www.ffcmh.org
   • www.nmha.org
   • www.empowercolorado.com
   • www.peakparent.org
   • www.wrightslaw.com
5. Nurturing your Child's Mental Health
6. Learning from your Child's Teacher
7. Caring for your Child
8. Children: What every child needs for good mental health
9. Your Child's Mental Health: What every family should know
10. Wraparound

Resources for professionals
1. Understanding Children's Mental Health
2. What is a System of Care
3. Wraparound
4. Web sites
   • www.naeyc.org
   • www.csefel.uiuc.edu/whatworks.html
   • www.devereuxearlychildhood.org
   • www.gucchd.georgetown.edu/programs/ta_center
     /topics/early_childhood.html
   • www.tapartnership.org
   • www.rtc.pdx.edu