Rise & Shine

Programs for Parents Newsletter…

June 2008

“Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health”

Supporting the mental health and well being of children and families requires a growing commitment in this country. It is estimated that one in every five children and adolescents experiences a mental health disorder. Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health campaign seeks to promote a compassionate understanding and action on behalf of children In need of mental health support. Reaching out to educators, health care providers, families and young people the goals of the campaign are to:

· Emphasis the importance of protecting and nurturing themental health of children.

· Foster recognition that many children have mental health problems that are real, painful and sometimes severe

· Encourage caregivers to seek early, appropriate treatment and services.

Mental health involves how we define and cope with life. A major principle in early child care is that children develop and construct their own understanding of life through their relationships with others and their environments.

Early child care curricula place high priority on establishing environments that promote healthy social-emotional development of young children. Such enriching, adult supported environments are important to all children, and especially to children who live with unsettling lives, or face loss, violence or some form of victimization.

There is a growing emphasis on child mental health in early child care. Attention is increasingly being given to understanding how stress affects children and how we, as providers, can assist with alleviating factors that induce their stress.

Professional development training is also provided to child care staff on viewing their programs and environments, from an infant mental health perspective, so as to promote attachment and primary bonding of parent and child and secondary bonding between caregiver and child.

National support for Pre-K funding will result in unprecedented numbers of young children entering the early child care system and with it must come expanded services to promote child and family well-being. Programs for Parents currently participates in the following programs:

Rise & Shine, a program funded by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, focuses on offering mental health support programs to children, families, childcare providers and residents in the Vailsburg community. Head Start and other child care centers in Vailsburg are key components to Rise & Shine’s success in offering early screening, referral and mental health follow up with master level clinicians through the lead agency, Family Connections. Programs for Parents also offers a parent/child bonding 10 week Music Together program for parents and child care providers in the Vailsburg area. For more information, click here.

Strengthening Families , funded by the Children Trust Fund, is an approach to preventing child abuse and neglect by promoting parental resilience and social emotional competence of children by enhancing center based services to families. Strengthening Families is being offered with the support of the Orange Board of Education and 7 Abbott funded child care centers: ABZ Child Care, Norgenes, Tiny Tots, Orange Bd. Of Ed at St. Johns, Valley Settlement House, West Orange Community House and the YWCA of Orange. Visit the link at cssp.com for more information.

	RISE & SHINE	Providing mental health, speech and developmental services for children ages birth through 5, and their families, in the Vailsburg section of Newark.
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*Programs for Parents Newsletter…* June 2008 “Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health” Supporting the mental health and well being of children and families requires a growing commitment in this country. It is estimated that one in every five children and adolescents experiences a mental health disorder. Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health campaign seeks to promote a compassionate understanding and action on behalf of children In need of mental health support. Reaching out to educators, health care providers, families and young people the goals of the campaign are to: · Emphasis the importance of protecting and nurturing themental health of children. · Foster recognition that many children have mental health problems that are real, painful and sometimes severe · Encourage caregivers to seek early, appropriate treatment and services. Mental health involves how we define and cope with life. A major principle in early child care is that children develop and construct their own understanding of life through their relationships with others and their environments. Early child care curricula place high priority on establishing environments that promote healthy social-emotional development of young children. Such enriching, adult supported environments are important to all children, and especially to children who live with unsettling lives, or face loss, violence or some form of victimization. There is a growing emphasis on child mental health in early child care. Attention is increasingly being given to understanding how stress affects children and how we, as providers, can assist with alleviating factors that induce their stress. Professional development training is also provided to child care staff on viewing their programs and environments, from an infant mental health perspective, so as to promote attachment and primary bonding of parent and child and secondary bonding between caregiver and child. National support for Pre-K funding will result in unprecedented numbers of young children entering the early child care system and with it must come expanded services to promote child and family well-being. Programs for Parents currently participates in the following programs: Rise & Shine, a program funded by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, focuses on offering mental health support programs to children, families, childcare providers and residents in the Vailsburg community. Head Start and other child care centers in Vailsburg are key components to Rise & Shine’s success in offering early screening, referral and mental health follow up with master level clinicians through the lead agency, Family Connections. Programs for Parents also offers a parent/child bonding 10 week Music Together program for parents and child care providers in the Vailsburg area. For more information, click here. Strengthening Families , funded by the Children Trust Fund, is an approach to preventing child abuse and neglect by promoting parental resilience and social emotional competence of children by enhancing center based services to families. Strengthening Families is being offered with the support of the Orange Board of Education and 7 Abbott funded child care centers: ABZ Child Care, Norgenes, Tiny Tots, Orange Bd. Of Ed at St. Johns, Valley Settlement House, West Orange Community House and the YWCA of Orange. Visit the link at cssp.com for more information.		Upcoming Events Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8:30 am -10:00 am Rise & Shine Community Breakfast Family Connections 280 South Harrison Ave, East Orange Rise & Shine Community Fair South Orange Avenue, Newark Coming this Fall Provider's Calendar Center's Calendar
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