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Mental Health

Head Start programs support the mental health of children, families, and staff every day. Early childhood mental health is the same as social and emotional well-being. It is a child’s developing capacity to express and regulate emotions, form trusting relationships, explore, and learn—all in the cultural context of family and community. The mental health of children and the adults that care for them is essential for school readiness.

Defining a “Mental Health Perspective”

Learn how programs with a mental health perspective distribute the responsibility for implementing a vision for mental health services across staff, administrators, and mental health consultants.

Learning Course About Supporting Healing and Resilience

The course provides family services professionals with foundational knowledge about trauma, healing, and resilience. Learn the impact of trauma and strategies you can apply to yourself and families in your program.

Example 1 Video

The following conversation takes place after Ms. Jefferson has invited Mary to come to provide her perspective on how things are going for Joe in the program.

Example 2 Video

A home visitor, Sarah, is meeting with Tammy, a mom. Tammy and her youngest child, Amalia, are enrolled in the Early Head Start (EHS) home visiting program in their community. This EHS program offers a depression screening for all the mothers and fathers in the program, which Tammy completed last week. At today's home visit, Sarah and Tammy have planned to discuss the results.

The Importance of Trust (Parent Clip 1)

This video clip shows staff and family reflections on their conversations. Mary, a parent, and Ms. Jefferson, a teacher, are asked questions about the impact of this type of conversation on their relationship with each other. Watch this clip to see reflection in action and to understand how using specific Motivational Interviewing strategies can help to deepen your relationships with families.

Supporting Autonomy: Valuing and Respecting Others' Opinion (Teacher Clip 1)

This video clip shows staff and family reflections on their conversations. Mary, a parent, and Ms. Jefferson, a teacher, are asked questions about the impact of this type of conversation on their relationship with each other. Watch this clip to see reflection in action and to understand how using specific Motivational Interviewing strategies can help to deepen your relationships with families.

HeadStart.gov

official website of the Administration for Children and Families

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