Investing in the Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce Development: Enhancing Professionals’ Competencies to Support Emotion and Behavior Regulation in Young Children

Brain Sciences

Audrey Hokoda¹  Shulamit N. Ritblatt¹  Charles Van Liew² 

[1] Child and family Development, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4502, USA;Humanities department at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ 85017, USA;

关键词: early childhood;    mental health;    challenging behaviors;    professional training;    social emotional development;    prevention;    early intervention;    workforce development;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci7090120

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This paper delineates a preventive approach to early childhood mental health by preparing the workforce to provide relational, sensitive care to young children ages 0–5. One of the most prevalent issues in early childhood is behavioral challenges and the inability of young children to regulate themselves. This leads to an expulsion rate in early childhood (3–4 times higher than K-12 expulsion rate) and future mental health issues. The Early Childhood Social-Emotional and Behavior Regulation Intervention Specialist (EC-SEBRIS) graduate level certificate program was created to strengthen early care and education providers with the knowledge and practice of how to support emotion and behavior regulation in young children in their groups. Evaluation data provide evidence that early care and education professionals increased in their perception of self-efficacy and in their sensitivity of care and skills to support behavioral health in young children. Results indicated that the children in their care showed less challenging behaviors and increased social competencies. This manuscript highlights the importance of prevention and the dire need to provide young children with high-quality, appropriate care to support their mental health.

【 授权许可】

Unknown