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Community Development

Providing Mental Health Support at an Early Age

What happens when childcare programs have the right support – and what happens when they don't?

Here is a scenario to consider: Daniel is 3 years old and part of a preschool program. He has a history of biting other kids, refusing to sit during circle time, and recently, he threw a block across the room. His teacher is overwhelmed and has started to wonder if he just doesn't belong in her classroom. The director of the program is considering asking Daniel's family to find another program, effectively expelling him. But if Daniel stays in the classroom, the teacher may quit.

This is a difficult situation, but fortunately, the City of Madison's Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program can provide support for situations like these. An Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health consultant can support teachers around classroom practices and program directors with guidance policies and procedure assistance.

Instead of asking, “What's wrong with Daniel?" they can ask, “What is Daniel trying to tell us?"

As part of this program, the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health consultant can sit with the teacher to listen to their concerns and needs and watch and listen to how children engage with peers and adults in the classroom. From there, their observations can help the teachers understand and respond to a child like Daniel's needs differently.

In the case of this scenario, the consultant coaches the teacher over the next few months on how to give Daniel warnings before transitions, how to greet him each morning in a way that helps settle his nervous system, and how to stay calm herself when he melts down, because her calm is contagious.  

These small changes create real results. Daniel slowly starts to trust his classroom. The biting stops. He makes a friend.  At the family's request, the consultant connects them with family resources available throughout the city to support their individual family's needs.  

There is also a ripple effect – his teacher can now approach every difficult behavior incident with curiosity instead of frustration. Other families have noticed the whole classroom feels different, and staff turnover slows. The director calls it "the best support we've had in years."

I thought I just wasn't cut out for kids like him. She helped me see that he needed something specific from me — and that I could actually give it to him.

Daniel is just one example, but there are thousands of kids like him in childcare programs right now – and also thousands of teachers who want help, but don't know how to get it. This type of support is crucial, because the earliest years of life are when the brain develops most rapidly. This means experiences of trauma, stress, or nurturing care can leave lasting imprints on how children think, feel, and relate to others for years as they get older.  

While the City of Madison's Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health program isn't able to solve all of our childcare problems, it is still making a big impact for children, families, and teachers and is one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways to shape healthier, more resilient communities for generations to come. 

The City of Madison's Community Development Division works every day to make sure everyone who lives in Madison thrives and reaches their highest potential. Funding from the Community Development Division supports hundreds of programs from partners across the city, but this support is more than a line item on a budget. It has real-life, everyday impacts for Madisonians. 

To highlight some of those significant impacts Community Development funding has on our community, we will be sharing stories every month on the Community Development Division's website. 

Additional Information and Resources

  • More about Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

    Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) is an intensive service aiming to build the capacity of Early Care and Education providers to support the development of young children's social and emotional skills while preventing the use of suspension and expulsion.

  • Child Care Tuition Assistance

    Financial assistance is available to City of Madison residents who are ineligible for the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program and meet the City of Madison eligibility requirements.

  • Child Care Provider Accreditation

    The City established a voluntary accreditation process based on a set of high-quality standards that promote optimal child development. These standards go beyond the licensing regulations to protect the health and safety of children.

  • Community-Wide Pyramid Model

    The Pyramid Model is a framework of evidence-based practices promoting young children's healthy social and emotional development.

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