Head Start and Early Head Start embraces a vision of mental wellness. The objective of the mental health component of Child Inc is to build collaborative relationships among children, families, staff, mental health professionals and the community, in order to enhance awareness and understanding of mental wellness and the contribution that mental health information and services can make to the wellness of all children and families.
Promoting mental health is a vital component of the work we do every day to enrich the lives of children and families at Child Inc. We know that to prepare children for school, we must support their social and emotional well-being. We also know that children’s parents and caregivers in the home and in the classroom benefit from resources that can support their own mental health and in turn, help support the children in their care.
The mental health team at Child Inc works closely with staff and parents to meet the mental health needs of children and families. While prevention is primary to the delivery of mental health services, intervention is also recognized as being of critical importance to children and families in crisis or in need of individual counseling. All children enrolled at Child Inc receive a social/emotional screening to identify any possible need for services (skill building, behavior support, counseling services etc.). If more specific intervention is needed, with parent/guardian permission, individual observations and assessments are done by a Licensed Professional Counselor. Consultation is available to parents, teachers, family advocates, and any other staff working with children. Additionally, teachers receive support on how to address individual and classroom-wide mental health issues.
Child Inc offers a mental health support group for parents of enrolled children. The group meets three times per month during the school year and is facilitated by a Licensed Professional Counselor. A Mental Health Consultant provides regular on site parent support groups for our Early Head Start programs.
For more information, contact Child Inc at (512) 451-7361 or 1(800)-222-4051