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First Steps Program
The First Steps Program helps families whose infants and
toddlers (birth to 36 months) are at risk of entering mental
health or special education services in the future. The
program promotes a strong parent-child attachment using a
structured home-based intervention model that is designed
for developing effective partnerships with parents, to foster
their strengths. Most often, if parents in these families
are struggling with their own issues (substance dependency,
domestic violence, poverty, mental health problems) they
tend to be emotionally fragile at a time when they need to
be emotionally available to their child. Use of a home-based
model specifically supports both the parent as an individual,
as well as the development of the parent-child attachment.
Further, the model facilitates understanding and support
for parents in ways that lead to a better understanding of
how they may improve outcomes for their children, e.g. through
talking, singing and reading to infants and toddlers, playing
interactive games, and interpreting infant and toddler emotional
cues. This
approach to treatment, which is implemented by Clinic professional
staff, increases parents’ awareness about their children’s
needs, improves children’s developmental course, and
expands safety and stimulation in the home environment.
Click here for link to full description of First Steps model program
Link to the American Psychology Association (APA) article on the First Steps program
Outpatient Treatment
Services are provided to children five and under with behavioral and emotional
problems that qualify with a diagnosed mental health condition. Children come
to the Clinic with a variety of behavioral problems including aggression, temper
tantrums, defiance, inattention, hyperactivity, depressed mood, anxiety, and
difficulty with attachment to caregivers. Relationship-based services include:
individual and family therapy, case management, rehabilitation, and psychiatry;
all which focus on family strengths, embrace cultural diversity and empower parents
through skills development and family education.
Early Intervention Day Treatment
A Clinic-based therapeutic environment is provided for children ages 2½ to
5 years old who already have significant behavioral or emotional problems. These
children frequently display multiple problem behaviors so severe that they interfere
with family functioning and may have resulted in the child being discharged from
preschool for disruptive behaviors. At this young age, these children may
have become dangerous to other children, steal, run away from caregivers, have
significant disturbances in sleep and other significant forms of disruptive behavior. Clinic
staff works with these children in a highly structured and nurturing environment.
Art, music and movement therapies are utilized to engage children in self-expression,
directed toward reducing problem behaviors. Parents and caregivers participate
in family and support groups, while home visits are also an integral part of
the program.
Preschool/Head Start Center Based Programs
The goal of our school-based preschool intervention programming
is to help prevent problem behaviors in very young children
from reaching a level of severe impairment, as well as increasing
children’s readiness for academic success. Through
collaborative partnerships, the Clinic places mental health
professionals into local preschool centers such as Head Starts,
to facilitate the identification and treatment of children
at risk for mental health problems.
In addition to having mental health professionals working
with children and teachers in the classroom, the Clinic also
provides:
- Support to teaching staff by offering trainings on mental
health related issues and the management of problematic
classroom behaviors in preschool age children.
- Support to parents of the preschool children, through
individual consultations, family therapy treatments, and
service coordination, available on-site at the centers
or in the family’s home.
By working with children and teachers directly in the classroom,
and supporting parents in the home, our preschool-based programming
creates access to mental health services for children and their
families living in one of the highest need areas of Los Angeles
County.
Click here for link to full description of our Head Start Center Based model program |
