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Mental Health

Head Start programs support the mental health of children, families, and staff every day. Early childhood mental health is the same as social and emotional well-being. It is a child’s developing capacity to express and regulate emotions, form trusting relationships, explore, and learn—all in the cultural context of family and community. The mental health of children and the adults that care for them is essential for school readiness.

Trauma-informed Care Program Systems

Learn how to use the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework to strengthen trauma-informed care. Find examples of how to support trauma-informed care and healing in programs and in systems of care.

Defining Trauma

Increase your knowledge and skills about trauma. Learn the definition of trauma, how we respond to traumatic events, and how traumatic events affect families.

Caring for Ourselves as We Care for Others

Learn about reactions to others’ trauma and how to respond. We need to take care of ourselves when we work with people who have experienced trauma. The effects of those experiences on them can affect us, too.

Strengthening Staff Trauma-informed Practices

Learn how to strengthen trauma-informed practices for staff. Review strategies staff can use to practice trauma-informed care. Find examples of how to support staff in a trauma-informed program.

Coping and Healing

Review strategies for coping with and healing from trauma. Learn how families’ strengths help the healing process.