"What makes us different from other PCIT programs is that this is the first time this (treatment) has been looked at with military families," Fernandez explained. "The research shows that there is an increase in disruptive behaviors in kids, more marital problems and more child mistreatments (due to the increase in deployments.)"

This intervention therapy has been shown to effectively reduce behavior problems in young children, improve the parent-child relationship, and reduce parenting stress and depression.

The number of infants and young children affected by homelessness and domestic violence is growing, and the effect of these experiences on children is wide-ranging. Early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) has expanded to these settings to help the adults attend to very young children whose needs are often obscured by families' crises. Recent research in ECMHC to childcare has cited the salience of the consultant–consultee relationship as the central contributor to positive change in caregiver's behavior and children's experience. This article explores the similarities and variations in the consultant's way of being that are necessary to expand this relationship-based ECMHC model to adult-focused settings. This has incorporated a combination of consultative shifts: expanded training, appreciation for families' survival priorities, attention to the effects of unavoidable adult decisions on children, increased tolerance for the affect this raises in parents and caseworkers, and greater efforts to create space for reflection and thinking. Caseworkers' attenuated contact with and limited prior knowledge about young children creates challenges in identifying and responding to concerns about children. The particular systemic and relational difficulties that emerge in shelters and that influence caseworkers' responsiveness to clients are explored.

Expanding early childhood mental health consultation to new venues: Serving infants and young children in domestic violence and homeless shelters

My current work involves consultation with a young mother in a domestic violence shelter and the Early Had Start home visitor meeting with this first-time mom weekly. -gw

I took more than 1000 photos and video clips at the 2012 Early Childhood Conference in Tacoma. There is a lot to process and a lot to digest. Here is a smattering of sets from some of the presentations I attended. Expect fuller recounting on specific workshops in the weeks ahead. -gw

The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) takes the research that shows which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for, delays or disabilities and creates FREE products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers, and service providers apply these best practices in the work they do every day. Most of these free products are available right here on our website for you to immediately view, download and use. TACSEI is a five-year grant made possible by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs

The National Training Institute sponsored by Zero to Three takes place each year in the fall. Videos from the 2011 institute are up on toxic stress, psychotropic drugs and foster care, and, as Chris pointed out to me, on the Parent Child Interaction Therapy model and American Indian families, and can be found via the link below. Thanks Chris. -gw

http://www.zttnticonference.org/home.aspx

27th NTI: Leading Edge Early Childhood Science, Policy and Practice

At the 2012 Early Childhood Conference in Tacoma attendee Oralia Banuelos, a bilingual family resource coordinator for early intervention birth to three with the North Central Educational Service District in Wenatchee WA describes a visit she made to Mexico to visit family in which she sees a boy playing outside by the side of a road and notes just how unique and special that experience can be for a child -- and for the adults watching who love that child.