INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH PATHWAY
There is growing awareness across Canada of the critical nature of infant and early childhood mental health and the important role service providers, practitioners, and clinicians play in connecting families to evidence-based support and intervention when needed. Studies show that mental health or social-emotional developmental concerns in infants and toddlers can make them more vulnerable to poorer performance when they enter school, and lead to poorer mental and physical wellbeing over their lives.
Infant and Early Mental Health, also referred to as Social-Emotional Development, is reflected by a child’s progressing capacity from infancy to age six to:
- Express and regulate their emotions,
- form close and secure relationships,
- and explore their environment.
Key organizations in Simcoe County that provide support and services to families of infants and young children have come together with the SickKids Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion program to create a care pathway for infants and young children ages 0-3.8. A cornerstone of this initiative is the pathway map—a visual guide that simplifies access to mental health services for infants, young children and their care providers.
For Referrals to English Service call HBHC at: 705-721-7520 Ext. 6850
For Referrals to French Service call La Clé at: 705-549-3116 Ext. 7162
For more information about the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Pathway initiative
