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)
Infant & Early Childhood
TRAILS Learning Capture
While many people will experience trauma at some point in their lives, how we heal depends on external factors that impact the care and support we receive. These factors include, but are not limited to: race, culture, ethnicity, socio- economic status, temperament, and our own individual resilience--something we'll dig into later in this learning capture. Using trauma-informed practices and approaches means that we deliver services with an awareness of the environment or the big picture in addition to considering individual needs. This Learning Capture is a snapshot of our conversation from our TRAILS Kick-Off event on October 21, 2021. … [Read more...] about TRAILS Learning Capture
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
Infusing infant and early childhood mental health into systems of care
This recorded webinar features a brief overview presentation that describes considerations for building a continuum of services and supports around infant and early childhood mental health in order to expand early childhood systems of care. Drawing on the work of former and current SOC grantees, facilitators discussed strategies for expanding infant and early childhood SOCs, and covered a range of services and supports that could be expanded in building early childhood SOCs. These included promotion and prevention approaches that support social-emotional development, and more intensive supports and services for young children with (or at-risk for) mental health diagnoses. … [Read more...] about Infusing infant and early childhood mental health into systems of care
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)