This 5 Things Digest from the NTTAC Infant and Early Childhood Transformation Team and "kid contributors" shares advice from gender-expansive young people for what adults should know about what has been most helpful to them as they grow into their identities. In Spring 2022, NTTAC’s Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Transformation Team hosted a webinar by author, national policy expert, and public health advocate Willy Wilkinson about Supporting Gender Diversity in Young Children. Following the fascinating conversation with webinar participants, our team members had the chance to learn from school-age children who had the courage and supportive environments to express their creative gender identities during their early childhood years, as well as the families of these kids. … [Read more...] about 5 Things Digest: 5 Things Gender-Expansive Kids Want Adults to Know (June 2022)
Family
Community of Practice – Engaging Fathers and Father Figures in Early Childhood Systems of Care: Engaging with Fathers and Father Figures from Special Populations
In an effective system of care, families are essential partners at the levels of service, management, and policymaking. As part of the process of engaging families, it is crucial to engage fathers and father figures in children’s mental health and related human services that have historically been framed as mother-and-child-serving systems. Researchers have learned that fathers have a critical role in children’s mental health, but need more support to fulfill their potential (L. Khan, 2017). In this recorded Community of Practice, fathers and grandfathers shared their advocacy journeys on behalf of their young children with (or potentially with) social-emotional and behavioral health needs. In addition, we heard from program and state leaders who have been fine-tuning approaches for engaging fathers and father figures from vulnerable communities in families and systems. Participants were supported in thinking through ways to embed and enhance father-friendly strategies at the agency … [Read more...] about Community of Practice – Engaging Fathers and Father Figures in Early Childhood Systems of Care: Engaging with Fathers and Father Figures from Special Populations
Reconnect, Reflect, and Renew Children’s Mental Health Conversation Series (IEC focus)
This recording is Part 2 of NTTAC's Facebook Live conversation series. In Part 2, participants discussed infant and early childhood mental health during COVID-19. Panel discussion featured folks engaged in mental health practice, policy, and programming to support infants, toddlers, young children and their families in universal and specialized settings. Panelists focused on strengths-based approaches that have been helpful in building the capacity of adults and caregivers to support social-emotional development and address the specific challenges faced during the pandemic. … [Read more...] about Reconnect, Reflect, and Renew Children’s Mental Health Conversation Series (IEC focus)
Principles & Prerequisites of Partnering with Families
Engaging family members as full and equitable partners in all aspects of care is the “secret sauce” for developing an effective and sustainable system of care for children, youth, and young adults with behavioral health needs. This recorded webinar highlighted the principles and prerequisites for being partners in care with family members; described the value to institutional culture and practice; and engaged participants in a dialogue about innovative strategies for building partnerships with families across child-serving systems. … [Read more...] about Principles & Prerequisites of Partnering with Families
Community of Practice – Engaging Fathers and Father Figures in Early Childhood Systems of Care: Centering Fatherhood Programming on Lived Experience
In an effective system of care, families are essential partners at the levels of service, management, and policymaking. As part of the process of engaging families, it is crucial to engage fathers and father figures in children’s mental health and related human services that have historically been framed as mother-and-child-serving systems. Researchers have learned that fathers have a critical role in children’s mental health, but need more support to fulfill their potential (L. Khan, 2017). In this recorded Community of Practice, fathers and grandfathers shared their advocacy journeys on behalf of their young children with (or potentially with) social-emotional and behavioral health needs. In addition, we heard from program and state leaders who have been fine-tuning approaches for engaging fathers and father figures from vulnerable communities in families and systems. Participants were supported in thinking through ways to embed and enhance father-friendly strategies at the agency … [Read more...] about Community of Practice – Engaging Fathers and Father Figures in Early Childhood Systems of Care: Centering Fatherhood Programming on Lived Experience