1. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov Susan Adams Assistant Commissioner House Study Committee on Children’s Mental Health

2. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov 2 Infants are alert and respond to the people around them, they smile and babble with their caregivers and move fairly smoothly from sleep, awake, and fussy times. Toddlers explore their surroundings, keep trying to master challenging tasks, learn to respond to limits, and look to caregivers for comfort. Preschoolers seek adults for help, agree to rules, cooperate with peers, and enjoy learning new things.

3. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov 3 Infants, toddlers and preschoolers with good mental health: Experience, manage and express the full range of positive and negative emotions. Develop close, positive relationships with other children and adults. Actively explore their environments and exhibit self- confidence and are intellectually inquisitive.

4. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov 4 Social-emotional and behavioral health are strongly associated with a young child’s readiness for kindergarten, as well as later achievements in school, positive social relationships, and even long- term adult outcomes. Fundamental part of child’s overall health and well being. Early environments, experiences and relationships have a lasting effect. Early problem behavior is predictive of future challenges.

5. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov 5 Infants, toddlers and preschoolers with good mental health need: Responsive caregivers Strong attachment to caregivers Consistent, predictable schedules Safe environments for exploration Early identification and support for any emerging concerns

6. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov 6 Social-emotional problems among young children are common: Between 9.5 and 14.2 percent of children between birth and five years old experience social-emotional problems that negatively impact their functioning, development and school-readiness. Early diagnosis and treatment is rare: Less than one percent of young children with emotional behavioral problems are identified. Nearly two to three times more preschool age children exhibit symptoms of trauma-related impairment than are diagnosed. Between 80 and 97 percent of children ages 3 to 5 with identified behavioral health needs did not receive services.

7. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov 7 Promote quality child care settings that support social-emotional development and the mental health of young children. Address the lack of trained providers in health, mental health and early care and education settings. Support and fund the use of developmentally appropriate screening and assessment of very young children.

8. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov 8 Ensure that home visiting programs can address the needs of children and their families with social emotional and behavioral problems. Create mechanisms, including through Medicaid, to support development and reimbursement for onsite mental health consultation in early care and learning settings. Explore alternate ways of paying for therapy services for very young children who need sustained professional intervention.

9. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning www.decal.ga.gov