Opportunities in public policy to support infant and early childhood mental health

Infant and early childhood mental health practices can be supported by policies and professional standards of care that foster the healthy development of young children. Policies that support infants and toddlers include those that strengthen their families to provide a family environment that promotes mental wellness. Policy issues for infants, toddlers, and young children have come to the forefront of thinking as children need a "voice" to advocate for their support and care. This article (a) highlights several important policy areas that support the social-emotional development of very young children and (b) gives examples of current policy accomplishments and challenges. The article offers a policy agenda to promote the mental health of infants and young children and suggests ways that psychologists can engage with policymakers to promote policies that foster infant mental health, including contributing to the knowledge base that informs policy decisions, educating the public and policymakers about early childhood development and mental wellness, forming community partnerships to identify and address infant mental health risks, and participating in the development of policy recommendations that improve access to evidence-based practices in infant mental health

Child development · Developmental psychology · Early childhood · Early childhood education · Infant mental health · Mental health · Policy development · Political science · Psychiatry · Public health · Public policy · Public relations · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Early Childhood Education and Development · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Health Policy · Public Administration

• Caretaker Awareness of Health Care Provided Developmental Screening

  Open Access•Ben Barger, Andrew T Roach et al.•Maternal and Child Health Journal•2017

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• Motherhood as Identity

  Open Access•Julian Grant, Pauline Guérin et al.•Journal of Refugee Studies•2018

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• Availability & willingness of psychologists to treat infants and young children

  Open Access•Keri Giordano, Richard LaTourette et al.•Children and Youth Services Review•2021

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• Sparking collaboration and instilling core competencies through training a statewide workforce in Infant Mental Health

  Open Access•Jennifer Dealy, JoAnn Robinson et al.•Infant Mental Health Journal•2021

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• An intersectional perspective on the intergenerational transmission of trauma and state‐perpetrated violence

  Open Access•Amy E Heberle, Elsia A Obus et al.•Journal of Social Issues•2020

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• Engaging and Supporting Young Children and their Families in Early Childhood Mental Health Services

  Open Access•Sameera S Nayak, Carol Tobias et al.•Community Mental Health Journal•2021

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• From Neurons to Neighborhoods

  Deborah Phillips, Jack P Shonkoff•From neurons to neighborhoods•2000

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• Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults

  Open Access•Vincent J Felitti, Robert F Anda et al.•American Journal of Preventive…•1998

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• Transforming Mental Health Care for Children and Their Families

  Larke Huang, Beth A Stroul et al.•American Psychologist•2005

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• Children's Mental Health as a Primary Care and Concern

  Patrick H Tolan, Kenneth A Dodge•American Psychologist•2005

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