Integrating Effective Evidence-Based Approaches for Working with Young Children
and Their Families: Focusing on Co-occuring
Behavioral and Mental Health Disorders in At-Risk Families
The Beach Center and Project EAGLE (Early
Action and Guidance Leading to Empowerment of Families) at the
University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS, have formed a
partnership to address the extensive needs of young at-risk children (infants
and toddlers up to age four) and their parents who live in poverty and who experience
co-occurring disorders such as mental health problems and substance abuse. The
major goal of this project is to build sustainable expertise for Project EAGLE
staff to better support their families who have multiple mental health problems
and related parenting issues by helping parents develop critically important
life management skills and early parenting skills to improve family
wellness.
The parenting education program
features innovative large group and individualized in-home training approaches,
and research-based content adapted for individuals with co-occurring disorders based
on two highly effective, replicated parent education program models. This project is also utilizing a train-the-trainers
model with Project EAGLE's Family Support Advocates and Child Care
Specialists
Project EAGLE, located in Wyandotte County in Kansas, supports families who have multiple
risk factors including mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and
child abuse, and social and emotional issues. The Beach Center's
PBS team and program supports Project EAGLE in three critical ways.
- Comprehensive training for Family Support
Advocates and Child Care Specialists(front line workers) in the areas of
co-occurring disorders, psychological issues, behavioral issues, depression,
and family supports
- Universal training (primary intervention) for
families with co-occurring disorders in effective life management skills and
early parenting skills to improve family wellness
- Targeted group training (secondary intervention)
and in-home consultation with Family Support Advocates and Child Care
Specialists and their families
Individualized
consultation (tertiary prevention) and more intensive, in-home support for
specific family cases that are especially challenging and need additional behavioral
expertise to have success.