Early Childhood Wellness

Prevention Approach: Early Care and Education, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Levers of Change: Actors

Birth to 22

Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County

Children Services Council of Palm Beach County

Fighting ACEs in Palm Beach County

Florida Association for Infant Mental Health (FAIMH)

Levers of Innovation: Actions

Quick Wins (QW) or Major Project (MP)

Universal

Create mental model to promote positive healthy interactions and relationships using a parent- friendly campaign (QW)

Build on collaborative workgroup currently meeting (QW).

Create childcare provider and K-5th school strategic plan (MP)

Selected

Expand co-location of therapeutic services to after-school programs, early care, and education preschool programs based on ACEs, racial, and zip code data (QW)

Call to Action:

Provide co-located public health approach to infant and early childhood centers as well as offering caregiver mental health in high-need communities (to include parents, aids, teachers, staff, and administrators).

The goal is to build the skill and capacity for self-regulation, identifying feelings, and coping strategies universally to create buffering and therapeutic relationships 2 8

Create trauma-informed early childhood learning centers. Build in layers of support for centers that have high suspension and expulsion rates.

The Florida Association for Infant Mental Health (FAIMH) holds the sole license to offer the credential: Endorsement for Culturally Relevant, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health® in the state of Florida The Endorsement® is supported internationally by the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, and originated as part of the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.

The Endorsement® identifies best practice competencies at multiple levels and across disciplines Endorsement® uses a nationally recognized set of competencies that helps define best practice and guides professional growth for professionals who serve infants and young children

Learn more: https://wwwfaimhorg/endorsement