Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter is devoted to mental health consultation in early childhood settings. This is a problem-solving and capacity-building intervention implemented through a collaborative relationship between a professional consultant with mental health expertise and one or more individuals directly involved with the child (e.g., staff members at a child care center, other service providers or family members). Finding ways to support the child, the caregiver and the relationship between the child and the caregiver is one of the main challenges in the early mental health consultative model. The chapter provides detailed guidelines for the consultative process, with particular emphasis on the qualities required of the consultant, the type of relationship which he or she must attempt to develop with the caretakers in a given setting and suggested procedures for building collaboration with these individuals. In order to enhance mental health consultation in early childhood additional resources need to be allocated and areas of responsibility and goals need to be clarified.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationChildren's Well-Being
Subtitle of host publicationIndicators and Research
PublisherSpringer Nature
Pages181-201
Number of pages21
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Publication series

NameChildren's Well-Being: Indicators and Research
Volume13

Keywords

  • Child-centered consultation model
  • Collaborative relationship
  • Early childhood mental health consultation
  • Head Start
  • Program-based consultation model

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Law
  • Health Professions (miscellaneous)
  • Sociology and Political Science

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