Builds collaborative relationships among children, families, staff, mental health professionals, and the larger community, in order to enhance awareness and understanding of mental wellness through information and services.

Provide opportunities for parents to discuss concerns they may have regarding their child and family's mental wellness.

Mental health services are made available to all children, families and staff by a mental health professional.

Mental Health in the Classroom

Staff provide many opportunities to encourage positive mental health by providing a supportive classroom environment based on positive behavior management and mental health observational feedback.

Opportunities to explore mental health with creative art, sand, water, music, doll houses, and dramatic play are provided daily to allow children opportunities to express their feelings. Staff are sensitive to changes in children's behavior, behavior unusual for the child or traumatic events known to have occurred in order to promote positive mental health for the child and family and ideas in a constructive manner.

Classroom Curriculum that focus on child mental health are also utilized " 1-2-3 Magic Circle " is a participatory small group time where a story or topic is shared that allows children to express their feelings in a non-threatening way.  " 1-2-3 Magic Circle " program enhances good mental health by teaching listening, social skills and positive self concept through mastery and effective communication of feelings (for HS children ages 3-5 yrs).

The Super Star Program allows each child to be the designated "special" person.  Parents participate by contributing to the child's bulletin board.  Art work that the child has done is displayed.  The child's family is invited to lunch.  The program involves parental participation and involvement to help enhance positive self-esteem for the child, model positive behavioral skills for parents, and encourage healthy family interactions (all EHS/HS 0-5 yrs).

Second Step is a research-based violence prevention program provides engaging lessons and activities that teach essential social skills, such as problem solving, emotion management, impulse control, and empathy.

Body Rights: A DUSO Approach To Preventing Sexual Abuse Of Children Is a sexual abuse prevention program developed for use with children between the ages of three and seven. Includes cassette, book, lap easel, puppets and illustration cards.

Mental Health for the Family

Each family is provided with a Resource Guide that contains referral information concerning mental health issues such as: family violence, substance abuse, family counseling, mental illness.

Information pertaining to Mental Health is available to parents at Parent Committee Meetings, including a presentation and resource information.
Short-term discussion and behavioral problem solving techniques are also provided as appropriate to parents and staff.

Parents are made aware of mental health services available to them at the time of enrollment.

All families are provided with information about the identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect.

Research-Based parent education opportunities are provided through parenting classes and family home visits. Multiple curriculums are utilized as services for parents provided.

Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a parent education and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten, usually age 5. Participating families receive personal visits in addition to parent group meetings.

Parents are supported by PAT-certified parent educators trained to translate scientific information on early brain development into specific when , what , how and why advice for families. By understanding what to expect during each stage of development, parents can easily capture the teachable moments in everyday life to enhance their child's language development, intellectual growth, social development and motor skills.

Nurturing Parenting

The Nurturing Parenting Programs are family-centered initiative designed to build nurturing parenting skills as an alternative to abusive and neglecting parenting and child-rearing.

Love and Logic

Love and Logic is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in the interactions with children. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic is a way of working with children that puts parents and teachers back in control, teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world, with its many choices and consequences.

Love and Logic offers adults an alternative way to communicate with children. The Love and Logic techniques produce immediate results because the techniques are simple, practical, and easy to learn. The concepts behind Love and Logic place a heavy emphasis on respect and dignity for children and at the same time allows parents to grasp simple approaches instead of learning difficult counseling procedures.