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As a provider or policymaker, you can find very valuable information about the ABC's of children's first five years developmental milestones. This section includes recommended websites, reading materials, articles, publications:
Preventing Expulsion From Child Care: How a Metal Health Consultant Helps ~ A recent national survey on the expulsion of preschool children from child care centers reports that centers with access to mental health consultation have lower rates of expulsion than centers without access to classroom-based behavioral consultation. Enhancing the Quality of Relationships in Infant-Toddler Child Care: A Developmental Process ~ The single most important factor in early education and care is the relationship between the child and caregiver. EARLY CHILDHOOD SOCIAL EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Indicators for Social-Emotional Development in Early Childhood ~ Social-emotional development in young children encompasses how young children feel about themselves, how they behave and how they relate to people close to them, such as caregivers, teachers, and peers. Although infant and early childhood mental health are often used in the same way, the term social-emotional development illustrates the importance of prevention and early intervention. Social-Emotional Development in Early Childhood - What Every Policy Maker Should Know (August 2009) ~ The early years of a child's life presents a unique opportunity to foster healthy development, and research has underscored the importance of the first five years of life - both positive and negative experiences - in shaping children's cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development. This brief outlines the risks faced by children with social, emotional, and behavioral problems, as well as barriers to eligibility, access to services, and services utilization. Children’s Mental Health - What Every Policymaker Should Know ~ Mental health is a key component in a child’s healthy development; children need to be healthy in order to learn, grow, and lead productive lives. The mental health service delivery system in its current state does not sufficiently meet the needs of children and youth, and most who are in need of mental health services are not able to access them. With the addition of effective treatments, services, and supports, the mental health system can become better equipped to help children and youth with mental health problems, or those who are at risk, to thrive and live successfully. Mental Health Problems in Early Childhood can Impair Learning and Behavior for Life ~ Significant mental health problems can and do occur in young children, in some cases, these problems can have serious consequences for early learning, social competence, and lifelong health. Furthermore, the foundations of many mental health problems that endure through adulthood are established early in life through the interaction of genetic predispositions and sustained, stress-inducing experiences. This knowledge should motivate practitioners and policymakers alike to address mental health problems at their origins, rather than only when they become more serious later in life. EARLY CHILDHOOD SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WEBSITES: The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country. The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children, also known as TACSEI, is a five-year grant made possible by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. TACSEI takes the research that shows which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for, delays or disabilities and creates FREE products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers, and service providers apply these best practices in the work they do every day. Most of these free products are available right here on our website for you to view, download and use. ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. ZERO TO THREE mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers. We know that as babies, the way we are held, talked to and cared for teaches us about who we are and how we are valued. This profoundly shapes who we will become. Early experiences set a course for a lifelong process of discovery about ourselves and the world around us. Simply put, early experiences matter. National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health's Through a family and youth driven approach, children and youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges and their families obtain needed supports and services so that children grow up healthy and able to maximize their potential.
What Works? A Study of Effective Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Programs ~ In recent years, there has been growing concern among many in the early care and education (ECE) community that increasing numbers of very young children are manifesting behavior problems. According to the Center for Mental Health in Schools (2005), the prevalence of clinically significant emotional and behavioral disabilities among young children ranges from 4 to 10%, with significantly higher estimates for low income children. In very young children these behaviors can be severe enough to warrant their removal from their preschool programs (Gilliam, 2005), setting into motion a cascade of negative experiences. Early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) is emerging as an effective strategy for addressing these challenging behaviors and supporting young children's social/emotional development in ECE settings (Gilliam & Shahar, 2006). Positive Behavior Support for Young Children. A Supplement to Positive Behavior Support for ALL Michigan Students: Creating Environments That Assure Learning ~ Many young children are not in public school systems. They are in preschools and childcare programs where childcare providers and other early childhood professionals have a huge effect on children’s behavior. This supplement is written for professional childcare providers, childcare provider associations, teachers, directors of early care and educational programs, and other early childhood professionals. POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS A WISE INVESTMENT OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS FUNDS ~ Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) is an evidence-based, data-driven framework proven to reduce disciplinary incidents, increase a school’s sense of safety, and support improved academic outcomes. Can Teacher Training in Classroom Management Make a Difference for Children's Experiences in Preschool? Policymakers recognize that early childhood education is a promising strategy for improving the school readiness of disadvantaged young children and for advancing their long-term academic success. Yet even as policymakers embrace greater investments in early childhood programs, they confront a difficult challenge: how can the quality of programs be maintained or enhanced when they are operated on a large scale? One critical aspect of quality is addressing children's emotional and behavioral development - that is, their ability to engage positively with peers and teachers and to focus their attention and behavior during classroom activities. Evidence suggests that improving young children's healthy emotional and behavioral development is both an important outcome in its own right and can also be a pathway to improved academic achievement. In survey after survey, teachers consistently emphasize their need for professional development and other supports to help them address children's behavioral issues. Supporting the Healthy Development and School Readiness of Connecticut's Children ~ Connecticut, through the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Cabinet, has devoted considerable resources to setting and achieving school readiness goals for the state's young children. These goals are captured in the ECE Cabinet's 2006 publication, Ready by 5 & Fine by 9. It has been shown nationally that more than half of the children who enter kindergarten are found to be lagging in health, socio-emotional, and/or cognitive development. Physical and mental health-related issues, alone or in combination, account for all but 6% of the children each year who are not ready to begin academic learning. In recognition of the role that health services play in ensuring school readiness, this report is written to benefit advocates, providers and policymakers by providing a Framework as a basis for action to improve delivery of child health services for infant, toddlers and preschool age groups.
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