Community Services

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

The purpose of this program is to promote the healthy social and emotional development of children birth to five and their families, by providing direct support and enhancement to the Child Care providers who serve them.

The program strives to:

• enhance the skills and knowledge base of both Child Care and mental health practitioners
  
• increase the understanding and cooperation between Child Care and mental health practitioners
  
• enhance interactions between Child Care providers and the children and families they serve
  
• provide timely intervention for children and families experiencing social and emotional distress
  
  

A full time Mental Health Consultant (MHC) works closely and collaboratively with the Child Care community to provide:

• Consultation and Technical Assistance
  
• Training
  
• Referral assistance for families in need
  
  

As a consultant, the MHC works directly with the Child Care community to provide:

• Observations/Problem Solving regarding children and their environment
  
• Behavioral - Social - Emotional Screenings
  
• Provider support
  
• Assistance working with families
  
  

As a trainer, the MHC works with Child Care providers, the Child Care Resource and Referral agencies and the Department of Human Services to:

• Provide training around social-emotional-behavioral issues designed to increase provider effectiveness
  
  • Topics are developed based upon local need.
    
  • Trainings are provided at times and in locations accessible to Child Care practitioners.
    

As a liaison, the MH Consultant acts to build bridges between Mental Health and Child Care by:

• Networking and relationship building in both communities
  
• Facilitating understanding and dialogue between the two communities
  
• Providing/Facilitating training for both communities
  
• Negotiating/Facilitating referrals for children and families
  in need
  

This program is currently implemented within the counties corresponding to the Service Delivery Areas (SDA) of the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies in Adams County and Cicero, Illinois.

For more information about this program, or to arrange for a speaker or trainer, please contact Chaddock’s Director of Family Education at jroope@chaddock.org.

For additional information about other available training and educational courses for parents, teachers and Child Care providers provided through the Chaddock Training Institute,
click here.