Child Care Mental Health Consultation Programs

Programs that provide problem-solving consultation and advice for parents and child care providers to support children who are experiencing behavioural or emotional challenges in their child care setting that put them at risk for losing access to their child care. The program aims to ensure the success of all children in child care and increase the number of families and child care providers who effectively nurture the social and emotional development of young children in licensed child care programs. Services include observation and assessment, home visits, child care site visits, behaviour management strategies for the child care setting and the home, adaptations in the child care environment, team planning and community referrals, and staff training. The programs differ from community to community in a number of ways including the type of services provided (behavioural-oriented versus therapy-oriented), the credentials of professionals providing the service (licensed therapists, behaviourists, early childhood specialists/educators), and the degree to which they work individually with children and families.