Early Childhood Mental Health Summit (2nd annual)

The second annual Early Childhood Mental Health Summit happened in Utah this month! January 2022. Hooray for people recognizing the need to intervene at a young age and doing headway into the now very visible problem of adolesence mental health and suicide rates. Thank you Governor Cox first lady Abby Cox for being on board and seeing the importance of this and for The Children’s Center for collaborating and putting this together. Early childhood and Mental Health in Utah with the work of the University of Utah works with The Children's Center drafted recommendations. Goal is: Help every child secure a solid foundation. Summary: ECMH 8 Strategies to help with Early Childhood Mental Health: 1. create a baseline estimate of need for early childhood mental health 2. Collaborate and coordinate with a wide variety of partners. 3. Increase awareness, promotion and preventions related activities. 4. Increase integration of physical and behavioral health for children. 5. Create incentives to help develop and retain ECMH Early Childhood Mental Health workforce. 6. Develop and provide training and certificates. 7. Estimate the long term value of ECMH in Utah. 8. Decrease disparities. The Hidden School’s recognition of these strategies and what we are doing to address them: 1. The HiddenSchool Found this need during Covid. The Extraordinary kids Summit was discovered and multiple speakers spoke on the importance of secure relationships with young children and supporting their development. THis seems so common sense however it is neophyte to many. 2. The Hidden School is seeking ways of working with others and will reach out to The Children's Center. 3. Parents and others are unaware of the importance of early childhood development. Accessing these resources are just starting to be met. 4. This is directed toward Medicaid enrolled children and helping them seek treatment earlier. The Hidden School School is a form of Child Find with a Special Education Teacher with resources to refer children as need to more services. 5. The Hidden School recognizes that there is a tolerance window for every human. We have found our sweet number for being able to help others at a ratio of 4:1 for student teacher. We are seeking more ways of getting the state involved in recognizing this small ratio importance for children by writing our legislation. 6. The Hidden School has found The MIndful Schools as a training and resource for educating caregivers and certifying teachers to enact Mindfulness for children. 7. Conduct a study. The Hidden School is in its first year. 8. Collect data. The Hidden Schools gives discounts to race and other minorities because it is for the good of all children attending The HIdden School to be exposed to diversity ei: vegan, race, socio-economic status. Early Childhood is a crital time of development. Plasticity is happening at faster rates. Factors that effect this is disparities ei. COVID, race, conflict, low-income, depressed parents. What they need is a secure relationship. This is what The Hidden School provides. A small class size with a resilent class theory that imploys Mindfulness for the children to know that there is just ONE more Person that loves them. Thank you to the Children's Center of Utah, University of Utah, University of Oregon, University of Maryland and Governor Cox and Fist Lady Abby Cox.