Contact:
Brenda Campos
Partnerships
Children's Mental Health
Children’s mental health is closely linked with their social and emotional development. Children who relate well with peers and adults and engage in activities that are challenging and enjoyable are resilient children. Resilient children cope with and adjust relatively easy with change and conflict.
Classroom Activities. Everyday classroom routines and activities promote mental health. They encourage self-discipline, initiative and motivation. Carefully selected activities promote creativity, self-awareness and positive self-concept. Social Workers work closely with teaching staff in consulting and providing suggestions to ensure that social and emotional goals continue to be part of the curriculum.
Screening and Assessment. Behavior screening is completed within the first 45 days of each child’s enrollment into the SETA Head Start program. Further services are determined for children who demonstrate atypical behavior and express social and emotional concerns. Use of standardized screening and assessment tools, child observations and parent and teacher interviews are employed in the assessment process.
Child Study Team (CST). SETA Head Start uses a process called Child Study Team as the first level of assistance for children needing classroom intervention prior to a referral for special services which may be provided by the school district or mental health agencies. The CST Meeting includes family members, teaching staff, support staff and other appropriate individuals who may play a role in the assessment and intervention. The child’s strengths, concerns, classroom modifications and action plan are discussed at this meeting.
Children’s Groups. Several SETA Head Start centers run a children’s group that focus on teaching problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. We use the "I Can Problem Solve" (Preschool) curriculum by Myrna Shure. These groups are facilitated by the Mental Health Coordinator and Social Work Interns.
Home Activities. Partnerships with family members are crucial in providing mental health support services to children. SETA Head Start staff develop action plans with family members for children needing follow-up services. For children who are typically developing, social and emotional goals are discussed at home visits and documented on children’s Individual Development Plan.
"Children are living beings - more living than grown-up people who have built shells of habit around themselves. Therefore it is absolutely necessary for their mental health and development that they should not have mere schools for their lessons, but a world whose guiding spirit is personal love."
- Rabindranath Tagore
