STARTEARLIER.ORG
Early Childhood Mental Health: For a Healthier Contra Costa County
EARLIER START, BIGGER IMPACT
By providing developmental and behavioral health support to Contra Costa County children as early as possible - prenatal to age six - we can make the biggest impact on the resilience and well-being of our communities into the future. This is especially true when we provide intervention to babies and young children at-risk for adversity (e.g., Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACES).
THE OPPORTUNITY
Intervention....AND Prevention
Addressing the developmental and behavioral health needs of babies and young children necessitates working with parents and children together. This "two-generation approach" is an intervention that strengthens family relationships and benefits both parent and child.
Research has shown that two-generation intervention strategies are particularly powerful in shifting children's developmental trajectories and reducing deleterious outcomes in learning, behavior and health. Early childhood interventions can be powerful tools of prevention that have far-reaching impacts for families and communities in Contra Costa County.
William James
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."
THE SCIENCE
Here's what we now know about the importance of early intervention and prevention...
FINDINGS FROM NEUROSCIENCE
SUPPORTING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
BUILDING RESILIENCE
THE OUTCOMES
TAKE ACTION
The time for change is NOW in Contra Costa County. Here's how we can work together in the near term to make a bigger impact on behavioral health outcomes for children and families facing adversity in our communities.