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Topic: Infant and Toddler Mental Health (Birth to 3)

Scientific Ratings in this topic:

1 - Well-Supported by Research Evidence

2 - Supported by Research Evidence

3 - Promising Research Evidence

4 - Evidence Fails to Demonstrate Effect

5 - Concerning Practice

NR - Not able to be Rated

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Definition for Infant and Toddler Mental Health (Birth to 3):

CEBC defines Infant and Toddler Mental Health programs as those that address mental health issues and early attachment disruptions by intervening through parental/caretaker guidance, supportive counseling, and parent/infant dyadic psychotherapy in children from birth up to three years of age. Infant and toddler mental health approaches support the child within the context of his/her relationship with parents and other primary caretakers. Infant and toddler mental health also helps develop capacity in the child for expressing emotions, forming close and secure relationships, and mastering their environment. Infant and toddler mental health can potentially interface across the Child Welfare service continuum, from working with parents and their infants/toddlers in prevention-based voluntary services to supporting structured visitation processes with the infant/toddler and their mother while attempting to reunify. Infant and toddler mental health could also potentially play a key role in supporting the relationship between the care provider and the reunifying parent through a permanency teaming approach.

Why was Infant and Toddler Mental Health (Birth to 3) chosen as a topic by the Advisory Committee? (Click for Answer)

Infant and Toddler Mental Health was chosen by the Advisory Committee because infants and toddlers represent the fastest growing age group of children being removed from their homes as a result of abuse or neglect and placed in foster care in the United States. Nationally, approximately 50,000 infants under 12 months (NCANDS) enter foster care every year; they make up one third of all admissions into the child welfare system. According to National Data (NCANDS) for 2007, children younger than 1 year accounted for 42.2 % of all child fatalities, while children younger than 4 years accounted for more than three quarters of all child fatalities. In addition, scientific evidence shows that 75% of the brains wiring occurs by age 1, and 90% by age 5, and research indicates trauma from abuse and neglect adversely impacts proper neural development. All of this shows the importance of early intervention with this young child population. Child Welfare needs to integrate evidence-based strategies in the continuum of services they provide that maximize healthy relationships for the child ages 0-3 in order to minimize and mitigate harmful impacts on brain development and future negative behavior.

Howard Himes, Director
Fresno County Department of Social Services
Fresno, CA

Programs in this topic area

Here are your search results for programs in the area of Infant and Toddler Mental Health (Birth to 3):

The programs listed below have been reviewed by the CEBC and, if appropriate, been rated using the Scientific Rating Scale.

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 2 - Supported by Research Evidence:

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Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) – detailed view
Topics: Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence: Services for Women and their Children, Infant and Toddler Mental Health (Birth to 3), Trauma Treatment (Child & Adolescent)
Children age 0-5, who have experienced a trauma, and their caregivers.

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 3 - Promising Research Evidence: