ALAMANCE ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Report to the Community 2012

The Alamance Alliance is a community wide System of Care initiative, funded through a six-year Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant, that partners with families, the community and child serving agencies to develop happy and healthy children aged birth through five to ensure their bright futures. A primary goal of the grant is to increase community capacity to identify, screen, refer and provide treatment services to children with social emotional difficulties and their families. Infant and early childhood mental health refers to a childs social and emotional development, including the childs ability to experience emotions, develop relationships, and learn. Healthy social and emotional development is necessary for success in school and in life, and is just as important as physical wellness. In many ways the first few years of a childs life set the stage for his or her social and emotional development. When those closest to them their parents, caregivers and family members make them feel loved and cherished, they learn that they are lovable. They feel good about themselves, express emotions effectively, and are curious and excited about their world. A secure beginning helps them later in forming positive relationships, gaining self-confidence, facing change, and meeting challenges successfully.

Early Childhood Mental Health Statistics:

Research has found that core brain development, 85% of which occurs in the first three years of life, shows differences in brain structure and function based on a childs experiences in relationships with others and with their social context. (SAMHSA) Of the young children who show early signs of problem behavior, it has been estimated that fewer than 10% receive services for these difficulties (Kazdin & Kendall, 1998) Preschool children are three times more likely to be expelled than children in grades K-12 (Gilliam, 2005) Kindergarten teachers say that about 20 percent of children entering kindergarten do not yet have the necessary social and emotional skills to be ready for school (brighttots.com)

The vision of the Alamance Alliance for Children and Families is that Alamance County will have an early childhood System of Care that fully supports and promotes the social and emotional health of children birth through 5 and their families.

Childrens Mental Health Matters

ABC Success
Alamance Alliance Clinical Coordinator: The first family I served for Attachment & Biobehavioral Catchup (ABC) was referred after they requested help from the Alamance County Department of Social Services, After just three sessions I already adoption unit. The family took custody see a difference after the child was in my son. born with drugs in her system and was ~ Mother who has just referred to ABC at begun ABC therapy 6 months of age. The primary concerns were constant crying, inability to soothe, and sleeping problems. The family immediately engaged in ABC and embraced the primary targets of the intervention (following the childs lead, taking delight, and nurturance). The first few sessions the child was very dysregulated, but This ABC now after 10 sessions program is going the child rarely cries really good in session and the parents appear to theres a big feel more confident difference in their ability to ~ Caregiver discussing nurture the child childs stress level and follow her lead. Evidence supports that these two targets help with the childs brain development, confidence, trust, and self-regulation.

By Laura Muse

Decreased Symptoms and Reduced Stress

Evaluation data shows improvement in child behavioral symptoms and parental stress level after receiving early childhood mental health services and interventions
Percent of Children with Behaviors Scoring in the Clinical Range on the Child Behavior Checklist at Intake, 6 and 12 Months (n=51)
100%
100%

Percent of Caregivers Indicating Clinically Significant Stress Levels on the PSI at Intake, 6 and 12 Months (n=67)

80%

80% 73%

65%
60%

Intake 6 month 12 month

*statistically significant change from intake

63% 60% 52% 42% 40% 36% 37% 52%

66% 58%*

Intake 6 month 12 month

*statistically significant change from intake

43%
40%

37% 29%

35%

35%

20%

20%

0%

0%

Internalizing Behaviors

Externalizing Behaviors

Parental Distress

Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction

Difficult Child

Research shows that trauma does affect young children; it has long-term consequences, especially given that brain development is happening at that same time. Gary Ander, LCSW

Who Are the Young Children and Families We Serve?

As Of September 30, 2012:
441 children were referred for a socialemotional assessment. 317 children had a diagnostic evaluation. 246 children were assigned a mental health provider.

Family/Household Income (n=168)

9% 17%

CHILD CHARACTERISTICS:
(n=168)
Average Age: 3.5 years old Gender: Male Female Age Group: 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years Race/Ethnicity: Black/African American Hispanic/Latino Multi-racial White

74%

Less Than $24,999 $25,000-$49,999 $50,000 and over

Get the support you need from places like Alamance Alliance because it does get better and the rewards are far better than the worries or fears.
~ Parent of a young child

63% 38% 1% 17% 27% 37% 19%

Childrens Living Situations at Intake

(n=164)
Lived with someone who was depressed? Lived with someone who had a mental illness other than depression? Lived with someone who had a substance abuse problem? Lived with someone who was convicted of a crime? 0% 20% 34% 34% 33% 40% 60% 80% 100% 72%

29% 18% 6% 46%

Percent of Children who have Witnessed or Experienced Assault at Intake

(n=161)
Experienced or witnessed sexual assault? Experienced or witnessed physical assault? Witnessed domestic violence?
0% 20% 40% 9% 26% 43% 60% 80% 100%

CAREGIVER CHARACTERISTICS:
(n=168)
Average Age: 34 years old Gender: Male Female Race/Ethnicity: Black/African American Hispanic/Latino Multi-racial White Education Level: Below High School High School/GED Some College/ Associates College Degree (e.g. BA, MA, PhD) 8% 92%

Who Refers Young Children for Services?

Referring Agency (n=168) 1%
1% 8% 8% 10% 15% 15% 24% 2%

28% 13% 4% 54% 23% 37% 30% 10%

24% Public Child Welfare 16% Alamance Burlington School System 15% Mental Health 15% Physical Health 10% Early Intervention 8% Caregiver 8% Preschool Special Education 1% Early Care: Other 1% Head Start

16%

Percent of Families Referred by Each Agency

2% Other

Workforce Development Highlights

1,000+ agency/organization staff, child care providers, parents and members of the community received training on early brain development, social-emotional development and the effects of early childhood trauma, and identification and referral of children with social-emotional concerns. 80+ professional staff from 14 agencies/practices have been trained to screen young children for social-emotional concerns using the ASQ-SE. 212 families have benefited from family partner services. 600+ children have been impacted by Incredible Years for Teachers training provided to more than 45 childcare teachers in 12 facilities. 216 parents have actively participated in Incredible Years for Children parenting program with classes in both English and Spanish. 7 evidenced-based early childhood mental health interventions and practices are now available in Alamance County including: Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Attachment & Bio-behavioral Catch-Up (ABC) Triple-P (through Project LAUNCH) Incredible Years-Parents Incredible Years-Teachers
* Statistics cited are totals over the life of the grant.

Childrens Mental Health Awareness Day 2012

Outreach Activities

More than 400 people attended the May opening of Behind the Seen: Encounters with the Contemporary Family, an art exhibit located at the Holly Hill Mall and Business Center in Burlington, NC, where community members were able to view the final artwork and a 20-minute clip of the documentary. The project, in celebration of Childrens Mental Health Awareness Day, was a joint venture of the Alamance Alliance for Children and Families and N.C. Families United.