This article examines the outcomes of implementing a trauma-informed home visiting program in a refugee/immigrant-serving mental health program in Chicago, Illinois. The mental health program used the Baby TALK home visiting program model, an evidence-based relational approach to supporting pregnant mothers and families with children less than 3…

This special UNICEF report documents the range of problems behind the decline of living standards in Africa and describes the practical steps which are being taken to confront the crisis. Discussed are (1) increasing implementation of immunization programs and progress in promoting oral rehydration therapy; (2) the impact on child survival and…

Findings from a qualitative evaluation of the Coordinated Consumer Health Education Project in rural Eastern Kentucky are presented. The purpose of the project is to provide health education for pregnant and lactating women and their infants up to one year of age through a coordinated effort with other health care providers. The evaluation…

The Pathways to Prevention (PTP) initiative was designed to help selected Early Head Start (EHS) programs enhance their mental health services for infants and toddlers by learning to work with infant mental health consultants. PTP engaged the author to provide support to the infant mental health consultants through regular group consultation via…

This introductory article discusses the large numbers of infants and young children affected by behavioral and emotional problems that pose salient challenges for clinical assessment and management. It examines barriers to the delivery of mental health services and stresses the need to develop data concerning efficacy and effectiveness of…

Onunaku, Ahlers, and Gilkerson describe Illinois's effort to build infant mental health capacity within the Part C Early Intervention system and Wisconsin's effort to build capacity for infant and early childhood mental health services statewide across all systems that serve children. Because of multiple funding streams, families often experience…

This special UNICEF report documents how an alliance of social resources--teachers, organizations, agencies--is beginning to help provide parents throughout the world with health knowledge that will benefit their children. Discussed are: (1) low-cost methods of protecting children's lives and growth which now prevent 2 million child deaths per…

Presents a conceptual framework that can be used to estimate the costs of prenatal exposure to tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Cost estimates that have been made are presented. It is obvious that preventing drug use or smoking should be a first priority of public policymakers. (SLD)

A survey was conducted of 193 directors of agencies providing home visits as part of early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Findings indicated limited coordination with hospitals, medical specialists, and mental health services; insufficient compensation for service coordination efforts; and state support to…

This article examines two programs chosen by the Early Head Start National Resource Center (EHSNRC) Pathways to Prevention (PTP) initiative to participate in a study of their mental health services. Both Wyoming's The Learning Center and Colorado's Developmental Opportunities found that working with the PTP mental health consultant catalyzed…

The unique focus of infant mental health interventions is most often the caregiver-infant relationship, rather than the traditional approach of focusing specifically on the child or caregiver. Because a relationship approach to assessment and treatment is new, the development of evidence-based approaches is still in its own infancy. Furthermore,…

Testimony presented in this document covers (1) current initiatives in the Public Health Service agenda to promote and protect the health of mothers and infants and to implement specific prevention activities in child health; (2) key issues in outcome and prevention along the human growth line; (3) recent neuroscience research having implications…

Reviews "Fair Start for Children," (Mary Larner and others), book summarizing efforts and effects of seven projects funded by the Ford Foundation in diverse communities in the United States during the early 1980s. The projects, part of the Child Survival/Fair Start network, addressed issues related to infant health among low-income…

The 11th Annual Building on Family Strengths Conference was held from May 6th through May 8th, 2004, in Portland, Oregon. Highlights included: (1) The revival of a pre-conference training session; this year featured "Understanding Research and Evaluation in Relation to Social Change," presented by Elaine Slaton and Shannon CrossBear of…

Based on the view that promoting the emotional wellness of young children and fostering secure, warm relationships between chidren and their teachers are critical to healthy early development, the Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS)/Parents Place collaborated with the City and County of San Francisco's Community Mental Health Division and…