Mental Health

The program has a Family Wellness Consultant available to observe classrooms, provide training and support to staff, and address parent and staff referrals. The Family Wellness Consultant can attend parent meetings for talks with parents on child discipline, stress management, and topics of their choice.

The Mental Health portion of the program focuses on the promotion of positive self-worth, respect for individual differences, and the ability to develop appropriate social skills. Accomplishments in these areas will affect a child's ability to play, love, learn, and work within the home, school, and other environments. All fit together to form the foundation of a mentally healthy person.

The three main areas in the Mental Health program are:

Program goals are designed to help children and families remain healthy.

Head Start/Early Head Start goals are designed to help children and families remain healthy.

A plan will be developed collaboratively by the Family Wellness Consultant, Head Start/Early Head Start personnel, and the family.

NOTE: A referral to the Family Wellness Consultant can be for family members such as parents, siblings, etc.

WAYS PARENTS CAN PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH

DISCIPLINE
When volunteering in the classroom, parents are not to discipline children, including their own. The classroom staff is to handle all discipline.
ATTITUDES
Parents should make a point to display positive attitudes with their children. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day, and parents should assist their children in embracing positive attitudes.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
Parents and staff should reinforce children's positive behavior. Rewards such as praise, hugs, special treats and stickers are good examples of reinforcers.

You may contact your Family Service Worker, Family Intervention Specialist, Family Resource Specialist, or Instructor for additional information at 1-800-876-2138.

Overview of HS/EHS mental health services we provide (from parent handbook or policies/procedures. Screenings, observations, wellness consultant, referral process for example).

Links to reputable sites on common childhood or maternal mental health issues.

Childhood Mental Health:
This page, created by the National Institute of Health, discusses a variety of childhood mental health issues including diagnosis, treatments, prevention, screenings, disease management and specific conditions.
Early Childhood Mental Health on Zero To Three:
This page contains resources for parents, caregivers, professionals and policymakers pertaining to infant and toddler mental health. Zero To Three is a national non-profit organization dedicated to informing parents, professionals and policy makers about infant and toddler development.
Emotions and Behavior from KidsHealth.org:
This page contains a variety of information on childhood emotions and behaviors, including fears and phobias, childhood stress, sibling rivalry, childhood depression, bedtime, discipline, temper tantrums and toileting, plus many more.
Postpartum Depression:
- National Women's Health Center
  This page from the National Women's Health Information Center contains information on depression before, during and after pregnancy.
- MedLine Plus
  This page contains information on postpartum depression including diagnosis, treatment, coping, related issues and links to other organizations.

Links to local agencies that provide mental health services:

"We, at Head Start & Early Head Start of Fayette County, are committed to Educate, Encourage, and Empower our families and children."