Accelerating Progress for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health In Washington
The state of Washington is part of a national movement to ensure that a strong network of infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) services is available to young children and their families. This brief, the first in a series of issue briefs funded by Perigee, covers the steps Washington took to collect information and stakeholder input to develop a strategic plan for advancing infant and early childhood mental health. It also provides an overview of the other five briefs in the series.
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Foundations of Well-being: Policy Strategies for Integrating Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health into Child Welfare
Report June 5, 2024
From birth to age 3, the brain undergoes its most dramatic period of growth, as babies learn to think, speak, walk, reason, and interact with others. This brief highlights the importance of IECMH for families in child welfare. It covers key components of the IECMH continuum of care and the importance of integrating ZERO TO THREE’s IECMH Guiding Principles and Best Practices for family support and reunification. Additionally, it suggests policy strategies for states to enhance collaboration between IECMH, child welfare, and other early childhood systems.
Incorporating Home-Based Educator Wellness in Equitable Early Childhood Systems
Video May 2, 2023
In this session, Shayla Collins (UW Center for Child & Family Well-Being), Dr. Rena Hallam (Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood), and Dr. Laura Lessard (Childcare Wellbeing Initiative) shared Shining the Light on You, their innovative wellness program designed for family child care educators, and Pilar Torres (L.U.N.A.) discussed ways to embed HBCC wellness support into ECE systems for educators whose primary language is Spanish.
Centering Racial Equity: Design Considerations for Oregon’s Statewide Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Program
Report April 19, 2023
Prepared by the Center for Improvement of Child & Family Services School of Social Work at Portland State University, this report summarizes information collected from key systems stakeholders, particularly those representing minoritized communities, and provides detailed recommendations for implementing an equity-focused system of IECMHC in Oregon.