Facts & Figures Racial Gaps in Early Childhood The National Center for Children in Poverty commissioned a study, “Racial Gaps in Early Childhood: Socio-emotional Health, Developmental, and Educational Outcomes Among African-American Boys” in 2011. Read their findings at…
National Organizations - Links The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital educates parents and caregivers about the behavioral health and well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults with behavioral, emotional,…
Facts & Figures KidsHealth.org Comprehensive resource site developed by Nemours Children’s Health for parents, youth, and educators on all things related to kids’ physical and behavioral health. Click the link below to explore KidsHealth.org.
Facts & Figures Data on Children in Poverty The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) collects and analyzes data and publishes a range of reports and tools on child poverty, early childhood mental health, and related issues.…
CT Organizations - Links Child Health and Development Institute CHDI advances effective, innovative system, practice, and policy solutions that result in equitable and optimal behavioral health and well-being for children, youth, and families in CT and beyond. CHDI accomplishes this through research, evaluation, training and technical assistance, and demonstration projects that inform systems change. Find publications and training resources on their website.
National Organizations - Links Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) at NIH The mission of NICHD at National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to lead research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents,…
National Organizations - Links HELPGUIDE.org An independent, nonprofit, comprehensive website full of resources about mental/behavioral health, well-being, relationships and more, for children and adults.
Publications Statewide Needs Assessment for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs Needs assessment conducted for Connecticut Department of Public Health on maternal, infant and early childhood Home visiting programs. To go directly to this publication, click on the link below. Files…
Publications Social Emotional Tips for Providers Caring For Infants This resource is primarily intended for use by those supporting infants within group settings. This may include staff such as, Early Head Start center-based teachers, family, group and centerbased childcare…
Publications Reducing Maternal Depression and Its Impact on Young Children The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP)published this issue brief which reflects NCCP’s continuing commitment to ensuring that every low-income child enters school with the skills to succeed, and…
Publications Recommended Practices – Preventing Challenging Behavior in Young Children: The single best way to address challenging behaviors in young children today is to take steps to make sure that they never occur. While there is no universal panacea for…
Publications Questions About Kids- Center for Early Education and Development This series of free flyers provide answers to important questions that parents and caregivers have about the psychological development of infants and toddlers. They are written by experts at the…
Publications Questions About Kids- Center for Early Education and Development This series of free flyers provide answers to important questions that parents and caregivers have about the psychological development of infants and toddlers. They are written by experts at the…
Publications Parent’s Guide to Special Education in Connecticut This document provides information for parents, guardians and other family members about laws, regulations, and policies affecting special education programs and services. These protections, rights and opportunities will best help…
Evidence-Based Practices Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is an intervention for young children, birth through age 5, who have experienced at least one traumatic event and are experiencing behavior, attachment, and/or mental health problems,…
Facts & Figures Bedwetting or Enuresis Facts for Families on Bedwetting or Enuresis Adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) HealthyChildren.org: Although most children are toilet trained between 2 and 4 years of age, some…
Facts & Figures Social Determinants of Children’s Mental Health According to the World Health Organization, social determinants of health are “Nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and…
Facts & Figures Social-emotional problems among young children are common Between 9.5 and 14.2 percent of children between birth and five years old experience social emotional problems that negatively impact their functioning, development and school-readiness. Approximately 9 percent of children…
Facts & Figures Preschool Expulsion Rates Higher than K-12, with significant racial disparities Multiple studies over the past two decades have found that expulsion rates in public and private preschools nationwide are significantly higher than expulsion rates in K-12 education. According to the…
Facts & Figures Neglect is as harmful as other forms of child abuse Severe neglect appears to be at least as great a threat to child health and development as physical abuse—possibly even greater. This working paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing…
Facts & Figures Early Childhood Data Sources – NECTAC The Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center puts together a list of databases and reports related to Early Childhood statistics and supports state IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs…
CT Organizations - Links Promoting First Relationships PROMOTING FIRST RELATIONSHIPS is a training program at the Barnard Center for Infant Mental Health and Development at the University of Washington. We are dedicated to promoting children’s social-emotional development…
National Organizations - Links Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Center at Vanderbilt University focused on promoting the social-emotional development and school readiness of young children (birth to age 5). Offers extensive training materials, videos, and print resources to help…
CT Organizations - Links Strengthening Families Program (SFP) The Strengthening Families Program (SFP) is a nationally and internationally recognized parenting and family strengthening program for high-risk and regular families. SFP is an evidence-based family skills training program found…
National Organizations - Links Circle of Security International A relationship-based early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children. Offers courses and trainings (CEUs available) for providers in the Circle of Security model and parent…
CT Organizations - Links New York University Child Study Center The Center was founded in 1997 to improve the treatment of child psychiatric disorders through scientific practice, research, and education, and to eliminate the stigma of being or having a…
CT Organizations - Links Find a Head Start Center Near You Find a Head Start or Early Head Start early childhood program near you.
National Organizations - Links Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) The Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) at the University of Minnesota helps early childhood educators, caregivers, practitioners, and programs achieve the best outcomes for the infants and young…
Evidence-Based Practices Minding the Baby The Minding the Baby™ Home Visiting (MTB-HV) clinical model is an intensive, interdisciplinary, preventive home visiting intervention for first-time young families that was initially developed at Yale University in New…
CT Organizations - Links Birth to Three – Connecticut A Connecticut state program that supports families when they have concerns about their infant and/or young child’s development. Children under age 3 who live in Connecticut and have a developmental…
CT Organizations - Links Help Me Grow – Connecticut Free statewide program from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood connecting CT children and families to community services and resources related to child health, behavior, development and learning.
CT Organizations - Links Postpartum Support International Postpartum Support International is dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, the most common complication of childbirth. They educate family, friends and healthcare…
CT Organizations - Links Child Development Infoline – Connecticut Child Development Infoline (CDI) is a free, confidential service of United Way of Connecticut. Care Coordinators are available to answer questions about infant and child development Monday – Friday, 8am-6pm.…
CT Organizations - Links CT Ages & Stages Child Development Monitoring Program This free program from Help Me Grow & CT Office of Early Childhood can help you monitor your child’s development and identify potential delays early.
CT Organizations - Links Tips and Tools on Healthy Nutrition The Zero to Three website has put together helpful resources for parents and caregivers on how to establish healthy eating habits in young children.
National Organizations - Links National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) A national technical assistance consortium working to support states, jurisdictions, and others to improve services and results for young children with disabilities and their families.
CT Organizations - Links Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health (CT-AIMH) CT-AIMH offers professional development opportunities to those working with infants and young children and their families and promotes competency in the infant/toddler/family workforce by offering an Endorsement in Culturally Sensitive,…
National Organizations - Links Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University’s mission is to drive science-based innovation that achieves breakthrough outcomes for children facing adversity. View their extensive resource library here.
National Organizations - Links Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation The Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation offers a clearinghouse of resources and materials that address the needs of Head Start staff and families and offer practical guidance on…
CT Organizations - Links The ABC’s Of Child Development Website by PBS, The Whole Child devoted to child development. Children grow and develop at different rates. While their pathways through childhood differ, most pass a set of predictable milestones…
Evidence-Based Practices Infant Toddler Temperment Tool The Infant Toddler Temperament Tool (IT3) was developed for the Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, an Innovation and Support Project funded by the Office of Head Start. The…
CT Organizations - Links The Annie E. Casey Foundation This is a private charitable organization dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children in the United States They publish, The Kid’s Count Data book that ranks states on…
National Organizations - Links Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center A national program that provides comprehensive developmental, early education, and social services to low-income young children (ages 3-5) and their families. The Head Start ECLKC offers training and career resources…
CT Organizations - Links The Child Health & Development Institute of Connecticut, Inc. A public, charitable foundation, the Children’s Fund focuses its resources on developing comprehensive, effective, community-based health and mental health care systems for children and their families. The Child Health and…
CT Organizations - Links Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) SAMHSA’s mission within the Nation’s health system is to improve the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to…
National Organizations - Links National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH) The NCEMCH provides national leadership to the maternal & child health professional community to improve the health and well-being of the nation’s children and families. Offers online courses for the…
CT Organizations - Links Zero to Three A national, nonprofit organization dedicated solely to advancing the healthy development of babies and young children. To go directly to the website, click on the link below.
CT Organizations - Links The State Education Resource Center (SERC) SERC is a nonprofit agency that serves as a resource for educational research and best practices. SERC provides schools and the community with professional development, information dissemination, training, and technical…
CT Organizations - Links The Connecticut State Department of Education The Connecticut State Department of Education is the administrative arm of the Connecticut State Board of Education. Through leadership, curriculum, research, planning, evaluation, assessment, data analyses and other assistance, the…
CT Organizations - Links Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital is a dedicated pediatric hospital with world-class experts who offer a full spectrum of primary and specialized medical care.
National Organizations - Links CDC Essentials of Parenting Essentials for Parenting is a free, online resource developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With one module designed for parents and caregivers of toddlers and preschoolers…
National Organizations - Links CDC Parenting Infants Information Resource from the CDC for parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers. Covers topics such as behavioral health, childhood diseases, home safety, developmental milestones, and positive parenting tips. To go…
CT Organizations - Links Child First Child First, developed in CT but now a national model, is an innovative evidence-based model which effectively decreases emotional and behavioral problems, developmental and learning problems, and abuse and neglect…
FAQs Will my child continue to have problems in school if he can’t get along with other children when he is young? It is very important to get help for any concerns you have about your child’s ability to play well with others or to respond well to adults. When young children don’t…
FAQs My child care has warned that my son may be asked to leave if he continues to harm other children. What should I do? You may want to talk to your child’s teacher to find out as much as you can about what is going on: when does this harmful behavior occur, who is…
FAQs What are the different ways of treating my young child’s mental health issues? For very young children, the treatment typically involves working with parents and their children together. It often includes visiting with parents at home to find out what their concerns are…
FAQs How will a doctor or mental health provider be able to identify my young child’s mental health concerns? When you meet with your pediatrician or doctor, he/she is going to try to understand your concerns. Your doctor will ask you questions about your child’s symptoms, when they occur…
FAQs Where do I go for help when I have concerns? You do not have to worry alone. If you have concerns about your infant or toddler call your child’s pediatrician as soon as you can. Discuss your concerns and ask if these…
FAQs What are the early warning signs of mental health problems/social and emotional delays? Some early warning signs can include: the lack of ability to be soothed, lack of regular sleep/awake cycles, and serious issues with feeding. Although all children experience these problems from time…
FAQs What can go wrong with my young child’s mental health? Some children have temperaments or personalities that make it hard to be a good parent. Their parents and caregivers have challenges in searching for the right way to sooth, comfort, and…
FAQs Why do I feel sad and overwhelmed by taking care of my young child? What can I do? Being a parent or caregiver is hard work and very demanding. Feeling sad and having lack of energy after giving birth is normal for 50-80% of new mothers. Many new mothers will…
FAQs How can I support the healthy social and emotional development of my young children (prenatal to six years)? Parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers can best support good mental health very early in development, even before the baby is born. Good prenatal care is very important to how…
FAQs What are the signs of healthy development in my young child (birth to 6)? Here is what to look for in your young child that will show good mental health: Babies are alert and willing to explore toys and play with caregivers. They enjoy being…
FAQs What is Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health? When we talk about infant/early childhood mental health we mean the early relationships infants and toddlers have with their parents or caregivers and their ability to experience emotion and explore…
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