April 15, 2024 School-Age Mental Health Consultation Accepting Appointments The Pennsylvania Key Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program is now offering a new service to help school-age children as well as their teachers and families with mental health counseling. Learn More School Age Child Care (SACC) Mental Health Consultation is aimed at assisting Keystone STARS programs looking for support with children who are struggling with behavior, attachment, peer relationships, or emotion regulation. It also assists teachers and families of students with self-care, stress, and coping. SACC Mental Health Consultation is now accepting consultation appointments across the state. Mental health consultants are available by telephone or video conference appointments. The consultation is a problem-solving and collaborative approach to develop goals and strategies for: Child social-emotional concerns Child behavioral or developmental concerns Emotional well-being of teachers and caregivers Partnering with families Services are available to child care professionals – such as teachers, directors, and staff in center, group-based child care programs – participating in Keystone STARS school-age child care programs. How to Request an Appointment Appointments are conducted on Tuesdays with the option to schedule follow-up appointments based on individual needs. Those interested in scheduling an appointment with a SACC mental health consultant can register online. Those who register will receive an email confirmation with appointment information and a Zoom link invitation for the video appointment if they chose a virtual option. Registration will be accepted until the day before a consultation date.
May 11, 2022 Mental Health Awareness Month May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is the overall wellness of how people think, regulate feelings, and behave. Mental health is important at every stage of life, including childhood. Mental health disorders in children are generally defined as delays or disruptions in developing age-appropriate thinking, behaviors, social skills or regulation of emotions. These disorders can cause distress to children and disrupt their ability to function well at home, in school, or in other social situations. Childhood Mental Health DAP Series As part of the 12-part Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series, Trying Together highlights several resources to support parents and caregivers who are caring for young children with mental health disorders. Topics include common childhood mental health disorders, children’s books about mental health, the impact of parental mental health on children, and more. Hope Day Block Party Staunton Farm Foundation is hosting a Hope Day Block Party on Saturday, May 21 at The Kingsley Association in East Liberty. The block party will have live performances, education about mental health, free food, and an art exhibit coming from Maine focusing on youth voice. Learn more. Mental Health in Afterschool The National Afterschool Association curated 15 resources to support mental health in all aspects of social and emotional learning in out-of-school-time programs. Mental Health Month Toolkit The theme of Mental Health America’s 2022 Mental Health Month Toolkit is “Back to Basics.” After the last two years of living with the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being. The toolkit provides information about mental health and what people can do if their mental health is a cause for concern. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation Program Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation is a free resource that supports children’s social- emotional development from birth through age five within early learning programs participating in Keystone STARS. Mental health consultants work with parents and early care and education caregivers to facilitate healthy growth and development for infants and young children. IECMH consultation provides support for parents and childcare professionals who work with children experiencing persistent or puzzling challenges. Learn more.
October 20, 2021 2021 Children’s Mental Health Report In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Child Mind Institute recently released a report on children’s mental health. This report examines ongoing research, including a survey of thousands of parents conducted by Child Mind Institute. Additional Information Key takeaways from the report include: Children’s moods during the pandemic were most closely related to the lifestyle changes they’d experienced. Children’s mental health three months before the pandemic began was the factor more closely correlated with their mental health during the pandemic. There is a connection between economic hardship and mental health outcomes. The full report can be accessed on the Child Mind Institute website. Additionally, tips for caregivers and educators on how to support mental health and learning are available for download.
October 13, 2021 Promoting Mental Health and Family Well-Being in Today’s World Workshop Series Are you interested in learning more about promoting familial mental health and well-being? Join Brazelton Touchpoint Center for a series of three sessions on various ways that professionals can support the families that they serve. Sessions This series features three sessions, each costing $35 or $90 for all three sessions. Registration is available online. October 20: Enhancing Partnerships Between Parents and Staff October 27: Understanding Depression and Fostering Resilience November 3: Talking with Children about Difficult Issues More Information Social-emotional wellness is essential for young children, their families, and the providers who work with them. Yet, promoting wellness and responding to the mental health needs of children and families may be challenging, especially during the ongoing pandemic. In this three-part series, you will learn knowledge and skills to strengthen relationships with adults and children and promote family well-being. You will: Learn practical strategies for building strong partnerships with families Learn the signs, symptoms, and causes of depression Explore communication challenges that can occur between staff and parents, and how to overcome them Enhance your understanding of resilience and how to partner with families to strengthen their resilience Learn how to talk more effectively with children about difficult issues Enhance your ability to support families seeking access to mental health services This series is for all professionals who work with families of young children, including early care and education providers, family child care providers, home visitors, and more.
