Element Four:
Early childhood mental health screening

Element work
• Implementation of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional- Early Childhood Mental Health Screening Tool in four out of five districts in year 2.
• [Pre-school screening staff from area schools and Carlton County Public Health screen all county children for certain social and emotional competencies which should be attained by certain ages. ]
• Children not meeting certain competencies of the Screening Tool are referred for follow up services with Public Health’s “Follow Along” program.
• The “Friendship Group” activity, piloted at Fond du Lac Head Start, is one successful intervention for children identified as needing help with social and emotional development. Our data shows that over a two-month period children gained significant social skills
• Early childhood educator training on early mental health issues is available regionally.

Results
• Children involved in these groups which are facilitated by a licensed psychiatrist, showed significant improvement in the desired skill areas.
• Hundreds of early childhood educators have taken part in a variety of workshops and in-service trainings on mental health issues.

Summary
The Element Four committee is working to ensure the social and emotional health of all children. A public awareness campaign developing a calendar of photographs to teach about attachment in underway.
Research shows that strategies which promote healthy social/emotional development among pre-schoolers provide the foundation for all future learning experiences.