New York State Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Initiatives in Child Welfare
Statewide Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children Tool kit and booklet, Ensuring the Healthy Development of Foster Children; A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals Babies Cant Wait Project
Babies Can t Wait Seminars for Judges and Court Personnel delivered by local practitioners Medical needs of infants in foster care Infant development Social-emotional needs and vulnerabilities Systems that provide early childhood services (Early Intervention; Early Head Start) Practical applications of past seminars (cases)
Judicial Consultation Project Institute for Infants, Children and Families Jewish Board of Family and Children s Services Dorothy Henderson, MSW, Director Through the Eyes of the Baby
Judicial Consultation Project Focuses on the social, emotional and cognitive developmental needs of very young children to have stable, consistent caregivers Brings state of the art research to judicial and child welfare personnel Highlights the critical role of assessment and recommendations by professionals experienced in infant and early childhood development Offers consultation and education to judicial and child welfare organizations, individualized to meet specific needs
Judicial Consultation Project Training has been delivered in almost 20 counties in New York State to judges, law guardians, child welfare officials and caseworkers, CASA child advocates Model presented at national meetings and shared with other municipalities and states
Other State-wide Initiatives New York State Office of Mental Health Child and Family Clinic Plus Mental health screenings in: Preventive Programs Early Childhood Programs
New York City Administration for Children s Services Babies Can t Wait Initial Placement Protocols How to Interview a Baby Infant and Toddler Palm Cards Visit Improvement Projects Visit Coaching Training and Services Visiting Centers Therapeutic Visiting Baby and Me Groups
The Home Screen (Pilot) Project A collaboration between NYC s Child Welfare (ACS) and Early Intervention Programs In response to mandates of CAPTA and IDEA Provides home screening to children birth to 30 months who are known to preventive agencies due to findings of neglect or abuse
Home Screen Project Being piloted in West Harlem due to: Large number of children under 3 with indicated reports in 2006 Presence of preventive and family rehabilitation program agencies; 7 in project Located in DOHMH District Public Health Office catchment area
Home Screen Project Positive screen child will have EI evaluation if parent consents Negative screen child will be re-screened at next ASQ/ASQ:SE interval
Court Consultation Project The Early Childhood Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine Susan Chinitz, Psy.D., Director Seminars in Bronx Family Court for judges and Legal Aid staff Case consultation (on site, telephone and email) Expedited referral for therapeutic services
County Based Programs ENHANCE (Excellence in Health Care to Abused and Neglected Children) Onondaga County (Syracuse) Steven Blatt, M.D. Collaboration between county DSS and the State University of NY Upstate Medical Center Comprehensive, multidisciplinary program providing primary pediatric care, developmental and mental health services for young children in foster care 7days/week; 24 hours
Other programs Foster Care Pediatrics, Monroe County Department of Public Health, Rochester Child Advocacy Center and Care for Kids Buffalo Westchester Institute for Human Development Suffolk County Department of Health Services