The Stark County Family Council of Canton, Ohio, found that its efforts at early intervention for preschool and Head Start children and families were enormously effective through collaboration with local early intervention service providers.
Mental health services are currently delivered through Head Start and the Child and Adolescent Service Center's early intervention program. This program helps children between the ages of 2½ and 5 with social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Both center-based and home-based services are available and are provided by mental health staff who have extensive experience in working with preschool aged children.
One of the mental health services offered is Preschool Assertive Community Treatment (PACT). PACT is a home-based program that works with the child when the child begins social interaction, such as preschool. Additionally, parents are taught behavior management techniques which reduces the incidence of child abuse and neglect and empowers parents. Both programs target very young populations (0-6 years old) and reflect the commitment of local funding agencies to support early intervention with young children and their families.
Head Start and the Stark County Mental Health Board jointly fund the intervention services through the Child and Adolescent Services Center. County mental health staff are housed at the Head Start programs and function so effectively with the Head Start staff that few people know they are from a separate mental health agency. The mental health staff identify mental health needs in the Head Start population and make sure that assessment and treatment services are delivered to families through mental health home-based services or at the Head Start facility. The PACT team provides on-site consultation to Stark County area preschool teachers who have children enrolled in their program who receive PACT services. To learn more about Family Support projects in your State, contact the agencies listed on pages 12 and 13. For more information on this program, contact:
