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Introduction
All young children experience behaviors from time to time as they grow and
develop that are challenging to adult caregivers. Many of these behaviors go
away without turning into more serious behavioral concerns with the right
kinds of strategies and attention from parents and other caregivers.
For some children their behavior is more intense, occurs more frequently
and interferes with their ability to learn and form positive relationships
with peers and significant adults. These children may have conditions
considered as mental health conditions or social and emotional disturbance.
Another group of young children may be living with circumstances that can
be considered environmental "risks." Risk factors may have negative
consequences on the child's growth and development including social/emotional
development and cognitive development. Risk factors include poverty, parental
substance abuse, violence, maternal age, homelessness, parental mental health
issues, child abuse or neglect, or out-of-home placement.
There are many public and private initiatives, projects, associations and
organizations that focus on these populations of young children and their
families. Supports for these organizations and programs come from multiple
federal government agencies and from many private associations, organizations
and foundations. This site is organized to assist Part C/Section 619 coordinators
and others to become familiar with the multiple federal agencies and their
respective initiates, as well as to become acquainted with private foundations
and organizations, all working in this very important arena of early
childhood mental health, social and emotional development.
Definitions- Who are these children?
ZERO TO THREE
defines infant mental health as: "the developing capacity
of the child from birth to age three to: experience, regulate and express
emotions; form close and secure relationships; and explore the environment
and learn all in the context of family community and cultural expectations
for young children. Infant mental health is synonymous with healthy social
and emotional development." ZERO TO THREE's
Diagnostic classifications
of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood
provides a classification scheme of mental health and developmental disorders in
the first 4 years of life.
The Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging
Behavior defines challenging behavior as: "any repeated pattern of behavior,
or perception of behavior, that interferes with or is at risk of interfering
with optimal learning or engagement in pro-social interactions with peers and
adults. Challenging behavior is thus defined on the basis of its effects."
Early Childhood Mental Health is a term used to "underscore the need for a
service system that deals with the emotional, social and behavioral needs of
young children from birth to 6 (and perhaps even 8 years) through both
developmental and clinical perspectives." (Knitzer, J.,2000 Early childhood
mental health services: A policy and systems development perspective. In
Shonkoff, J.P. & Meisels, S.J. (eds.) Handbook of Early Childhood Intervention,
2nd edition. NY. Cambridge Press. (pg. 417).
Glossary of mental health terms:
The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors provides an
extensive glossary of mental health definitions.
Links on this site are verified monthly. This page content was last updated on 02/29/2008 CF.
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