Motivational Interviewing Suite
These short videos provide examples of how to use MI strategies in everyday conversations between staff and families. Staff can use these videos to identify skills to enhance their relationships with families.
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.
Facilitating a Referral for Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families
Head Start program staff are required to work in partnership with families to ensure they have access to any needed mental health services. This brief is designed to: (1) provide guidance for Head Start program staff to identify mental health providers who best meet a family's needs, culture, and personality, and (2) offer ideas to overcome access barriers.
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.
1302.45 Supports for mental health and well-being.
Head Start programs must use a multidisciplinary approach to support a program-wide culture that promotes children’s mental health, social and emotional well-being, and overall health and safety.
Biting: A Fact Sheet for Families
Biting is a common but upsetting behavior of toddlers. It is important for parents to address biting when it occurs. This fact sheet provides tips for parents and program staff on how to better understand issues around biting.
"My 1st Year" and "Discovering Feelings" Books
"My 1st Year" and "Discovering Feelings" Books can be used by parents, caregivers and consultants. They are designed to help adults better understand a baby's development, recognize important milestones and in helping to label a young child’s feelings.
Everyday Ideas for Increasing Children's Opportunities to Practice Social Skills and Emotional Competencies
The ideas and strategies outlined below are available in a variety of formats. They include Twitter postings ("tweets"), classroom activities, and supplemental materials that can be sent home for families to do at home.
Depression in Mothers: More Than the Blues – A Toolkit for Family Service Providers
The toolkit provides information about depression and offers ideas that providers can use daily when helping mothers and their families.
Temperament Traits Chart
Caregivers and parents have unique temperaments. Adult-child compatibility can affect the quality of their relationships. Use this chart to discover your traits and those of the children you work with.
Reflective Supervision: Putting It Into Practice
This webcast is designed to help you implement reflective supervision in your Early Head Start, Head Start, or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program. It features a mini-training with Early Head Start practitioners led by Rebecca Shahmoon-Shanok, LCSW, Ph.D., a leading early childhood expert.