As this year’s Mental Health Awareness month comes to a close, we reflect on a pillar of our work at the Department of Early Childhood (DEC): promoting children’s healthy social and emotional development. One of our key initiatives focused on this work is the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Initiative, which pairs mental health professionals with early care and education programs to build the capacity and skills of staff and families. Early care and education research consistently affirms that young children develop best in programs that promote positive relationships between educators and parents, among staff, and between the child and their teacher. The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Initiative focuses on the adults in children’s lives equipping them to work together to support children’s social and emotional development, address concerns, and improve overall early care and education program services and practices.
Over the last year, DEC, alongside the Department of Public Health and the Department of Children Youth and Their Families, has invested $5 million to give 190 early childhood education centers, family childcare centers, and family resource centers access to Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services. These services include onsite and remote observation and consultation, early intervention, behavioral health support, teacher and parent trainings, and resource referrals.
Recent local and national research has shown that these investments pay off for everyone involved. Children’s externalizing behaviors decrease and their social skills and peer relationships improve. Families report increased access to mental health services and improved parenting skills. Early educators report improved teaching skills and communication with families, as well as reduced stress, and participating programs have reduced staff turnover.
We have also heard about the benefits of ECMHC directly from classroom educators who have worked with our consultants. One consultee shared,
“When I started there were children with challenging behaviors that I didn’t understand… I had to learn how to work through this, with these children, find ways to give them hands on experiences that could alleviate whatever they were trying to communicate. Before the consultants came on board, I noticed a lot of teacher burnt out, teachers weren’t prepared, there weren’t any experts on board. In the years I’ve been with the mental health consultants, I find it is really, really crucial.”
By focusing on the adults in children’s lives, we are equipping educators with the tools they need to promote healthy development, intervene, and refer families to additional developmental resources. Our critical effort ensures that children’s social and emotional development and mental health are supported with care and understanding across San Francisco.