Polis proclaims Children’s Mental Health Awareness week
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(DENVER, COLO.) — Governor Jared Polis proclaimed the observance of Children’s Mental Health Awareness on Thursday, May 9.
The proclamation notes that 10-16 percent of young children, and 20 percent of low-income young children, experience mental health conditions including PTSD and anxiety.
Children who exhibit behaviors that adults find challenging are expelled from early care settings at three times the rate of K-12 students. This can cause delays in emotional development, disrupt family stability, and prevent children from being ready to start school.
“As we observe Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week this year, it is important to honor the strides we have made in promoting children’s healthy social-emotional development and mental health while recognizing the high level of continuing need,” said Governor Jared Polis. “We must remain steadfast in our commitment to provide an early childhood mental health system that is equitable and accessible, focused on prevention and early intervention, empowers families and communities, and is free of stigma.”
The proclamation also noted that 20 to 40 percent of the early childhood education workforce has experienced higher rates of depression than the general U.S. population. The mental health of caregivers impacts the well-being of babies and children.
The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) provides diverse evidence-based programs that support children from birth through age five, including Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, a no-cost program that equips childhood professionals with the knowledge, skills, and resources to support their well-being and the healthy social-emotional development of the children they care for.
“This annual observance prioritizing children’s mental health provides an important opportunity to increase awareness that we all have mental health, even babies and young children,” said Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood Dr. Lisa Roy. “Our evidence-based programs and services equip families and early childhood professionals across Colorado with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to support their own well-being and the healthy social-emotional development and mental health of the children they care for. These early experiences and relationships shape how a child’s brain develops. Creating a strong foundation with secure and loving relationships leads to greater health, learning, and life-long well-being.”
Other programs the CDEC offers include ‘The Incredible Years’ a program that builds the social and emotional skills of young children, ‘The Pyramid Model’ a professional development system for teachers, and ‘Child First’ a home-based service that helps families build strong relationships that heal and protect young children from trauma and chronic stress.
To read more about these programs, click the link above or contact Lisa Schuleter, Early Childhood Mental Health Unit Manager at lisa.schlueter@state.co.us
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