georgetown university national technical assistance center for children’s mental health 1
TRANSCRIPT
Georgetown UniversityNational Technical Assistance Center
for Children’s Mental Health
1
Purpose of Today’s CallTo highlight findings from Georgetown’s new
study on effective early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC)
To hear from two of the study sites about their program models and lessons learned
To explore special topics in ECMHC including:Cultural and linguistic competenceReflective supervision and support for consultantsDeveloping a statewide ECMHC program
2
3
What is Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation?
“Mental health consultation in early childhood settings is a problem-solving and capacity–building intervention implemented within a collaborative relationship between a professional consultant with mental health expertise and one or more individuals with other areas of expertise - primarily child care center staff. ECMHC aims to build the capacity of staff, families, programs, and systems to prevent, identify, treat and reduce the impact of mental health problems among children from birth to age six and their families” (Cohen & Kaufmann, 2000)
Knowledge GapsWhat are the essential components of
effective mental health consultation?What are the skills, competencies, and
credentials of effective consultants?What are the training, supervision, and
support needs of consultants?What level of intervention intensity is needed
to produce good outcomes?Which outcomes should be targeted and how
should they be measured?4
Georgetown’s New Study on ECMHC
Purpose: Address critical knowledge gaps in the fieldOffer data-driven guidance to states and
communitiesProvide a snapshot of the status of ECMHC efforts
nationally
Funders:Annie E. Casey FoundationThe A.L. Mailman Family Foundation 5
Study DesignSite Visits
Six diverse ECMHC programs demonstrating positive child, family, staff and/or program outcomes
Interviews with diverse stakeholdersData collection using standardized
measures Brief Online Scan
Disseminated to all states’ and territories’ Children’s Mental Health Directors and Early Childhood Comprehensive System (ECCS) Coordinators
Meeting of Experts6
Study SitesChild Care Expulsion Prevention (Michigan)*
Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (Connecticut)
Early Intervention Program/Instituto Familiar de la Raza (San Francisco, CA)*
Early Intervention Project (Baltimore City, MD)
Kid Connects (Boulder, CO)
Together for Kids (Central Massachusetts)
*Sites presenting on today’s call
7
Core Features of Effective ECMHC Programs
8
Solid Program Infrastructure
Readiness
Relationships
Positive Outcomes
Staff ChildProgram Family
High-Quality
Services
Highly- Qualified Consultan
ts
Su
stain
ab
ility & C
QI
What are the skills, competencies, and credentials of effective consultants?
Education/KnowledgeMasters degree in a related field, e.g.,
social work, psychologyUnderstanding of key content areas
SkillsRelationship-buildingCommunicationAble to work with infants/children in
group settingsAble to motivate parents/providers to try
new strategies 9
What are the skills, competencies, and credentials of effective consultants?
Attributes/CharacteristicsRespectfulTrustworthyOpen-minded/non-
judgmentalReflective
ApproachableGood listenerCompassionateTeam playerFlexiblePatient
10
What are the training, supervision, and support needs of consultants?
TrainingProgram model (philosophy & processes)Early childhood mental health topicsConsultation topicsMentoring/shadowingOngoing professional development
opportunities
11
What are the training, supervision, and support needs of consultants?
SupervisionClinical and administrative supervisionReflective in natureRegular and ongoing
SupportOne-on-one and with peers (i.e., group)Formal and informal
Reflective supervision provides support and knowledge to guide decision-making, offers empathy to help supervisees explore their reaction to the work, and helps suervisees manage the stress and intensity of the work. (Parlakian, 2002)
12
What level of intervention intensity is needed to produce good outcomes?
Variability across study sites regarding frequency and duration of services
Diversity is reflective ofvariation in program modelsprograms’ recognition of the individualized
nature of ECMHC
Additional research is needed to examine if there is a certain “dosage” of consultation that leads to positive outcomes
13
Which outcomes should be targeted and how should they be measured?
OutcomesECE staffECE programChildFamily
Matrix of measurement tools
Methodology considerations
14
Remaining Areas for ExplorationWhat is the “dosage” of consultation needed for
efficacy?What is the cost-benefit of ECMHC?What are the longitudinal impacts of ECMHC?What is the impact of each model component on
outcomes (e.g., consultant skills, service array)?Which consultation models are most effective for
certain children, families and/or settings?What are the best measurement tools for
evaluating ECMHC and where is there need for development of new tools?
15
For More InformationContacts:Frances B. Duran, [email protected] Roxane K. Kaufmann, [email protected]
Final study report will be available online Summer 2009 at: http://gucchd.georgetown.edu/
16