On Every Domain of Development Is Our Concern: The benefits of cross-disciplinary information

Every domain of development is our concern. Relying too heavily on information from one area underestimates the value of another. We all need each others’ expertise in our work. The more attentive we become in working together, the smarter we are in our own work.

When you watch a baby and parent interact, the lens of your own discipline colors what you see, and how you interpret your observations. If you are a mental health provider, you may be wondering about maternal depression or attachment disorder. If you are an OT or a PT you may be noticing the atonic neck reflex or the infant’s response to vestibular stimulation. If you are a Speech/ language pathologist, you may focus on the absence of vocalizing or the lack of social referencing. Cross disciplinary information allows us to see how one area of development is influencing another and protects us from misinterpreting a symptom as a cause of the problem. 

 http://kidsattuned.com/an-introduction-to-the-interdisciplinary-approach-to-infant-mental-health-section-2/

Barbara Kalmanson's comments on KidsAttuned bring up for me how unique our consultation group is. We have, and continue to have, the kind of diversity of disciplines represented at our meetings she describes as beneficial to getting at the truth of development. -gw

On What Effect Size Tells Us: PCIT has twice the effect of stimulant medication on disruptive behavior

Parent Child Interaction Therapy has twice the effect size of stimulant medication over disruptive behavior, as Dr John-Paul Abner coneys in this recent PCIT conference video clip.-gw

Effect size is a simple way of quantifying the difference between two groups that has many advantages over the use of tests of statistical significance alone. Effect size emphasises the size of the difference

It's the Effect Size, Stupid: What effect size is and why it is important

Dr Abner's explanation of effect size

On the Screening of Infants By Pediatricians For Toxic Stress: Recommended

Source: Using the DC-0 to 3 conference with Donna Westin

An awareness of the impact of  adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in early childhood continues to grow. -gw

An infant’s early visits to the pediatrician now might consist of screening for “toxic stress” symptoms, according to recommendations being created by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

With growing awareness in the field of infant mental health, based on the deepening body of scientific evidence, experts agree that monitoring babies for healthy brain development will lead to better longer-term outcomes.

AAP's recommendations are similar to previous warnings to shield children from second hand cigarette smoke or too much video screen time. This time, AAP is looking at how stress can impact a baby’s development.

http://www.scpr.org/blogs/education/2013/06/06/13920/pediatricians-urged-to-screen-infants-and-toddlers/

On How Are We Doing: I-ECMH in Washington State

 

If we ask the questions above, posed in Nurturing Change: State Strategies for Improving Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, how is the State of Washington doing in the area of infant and early childhood mental health services (I-ECMH)?

On CARE, Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement: A trauma-informed modification of PCIT

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) is a trauma-informed modification of specific PCIT skills for general usage by non-clinical adults who interact with traumatized children and their caregivers within various milieu settings. CARE has been adapted during the 2006 NCTSN project year by the National Center on Family Homelessness and the Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute for use in homeless serving systems.

Child Adult Relationship Enhancement - Homelessness Resource

I learned about CARE through Joshua Masse's presentation at the 2013 Washington State PCIT Conference. -gw

PCIT = Parent Child Interaction Therapy

TF-CBT = Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy