Submission Type: Practice-Based
Final Rating: Best Practice
Date Submitted: Spring 2022
Focus Area: Child Development
Focus Population: Children, Caregivers, Guardians, Parents
Contact Information:
Elizabeth Bard, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
(405) 271-5700
Oklahoma University Health Science Center (OUHSC) Child Study Center
1100 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Goals and Outcomes:
The Child Study Center (CSC) has played a valuable role in supporting the Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ (OKDHS) and Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ (OKDMHSAS) statewide efforts for prevention and early intervention of early childhood. The goals of this submission are to support funding to develop and enhance a specialized program for assessment and treatment in early child development to identify early needs. The outcomes include: 1) early identification of children at risk, 2) prevention and intervention for children impacted by adverse childhood events, 3) facilitate family bonding and attachment with direct caregiver involvement that better serves the caregiver and the development of the child, 4) reduce long-term behavioral and emotional risks as children develop into school age years, and 5) increase placement stability. Without funding support, children zero through six will lose access to early intervention services at CSC.
This program will support multiple providers who received specialized training in assessment and intervention services for children who are at risk for developing social, emotional, and/or behavioral problems. Services offered have been specifically developed to serve children who have been impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) (i.e., substance abuse in the home, child abuse/neglect, change in placement, parental mental illness, and domestic violence) and their families. Early intervention with evidence-based treatments (EBT’s) is highly regarded as “the Gold Standard” to strengthen the family system and provide actionable skill sets for the caregivers. With early intervention, research shows, children are better equipped to be successful in early childhood settings and their overall development can be enhanced.
This program incorporates assessment, intervention options, intensive case management, and specialized supervision of providers. Children impacted by ACE’s are at an increased risk for challenging behavior, difficulty with attachment, and struggle with regulating their emotions. In addition, as children age, there may be negative impacts surrounding academic performance, relationship challenges, and an increased risk for mental health concerns. Therefore, providing infant mental health assessments is crucial to quickly determine a need for early intervention for families impacted by ACE’s.
Brief Summary:
The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program will serve the child welfare population ages zero to age six. The clinic will focus on early identification, prevention and intervention for children and their caregivers (biological and foster) who are involved in child welfare.
The Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program will conduct comprehensive developmental assessments to evaluate cognitive, language, motor, social and emotional, and attachment for children ages zero to six who are involved in child welfare. This is to discern early intervention needs and to identify and implement best practices that support early child development.