POLICY:

NOCAC Child Development program will provide enrolled pregnant women, fathers and partners or other relevant family members the prenatal and postpartum information, education and services as appropriate including a newborn visit within two weeks after the infant’s birth.

PROCEDURES:

1. A mental health screening will be completed within 30 days of enrollment, 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester and postnatal (at 2-week visit) using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
   1. If the scale has a score of 10 or higher, if a mother/pregnant woman who scores over a 10, a rescreen will be completed after 2 weeks in situations where  Home Visitor feels the mental health needs aren’t severe/urgent.  The participant will be asked if she would like her doctor to receive the results.  The intervention manager can also be contacted to share resources and give referrals if needed.
   2. After Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is completed, the paperwork will be turned in to the Intervention Manager, who will input information into ChildPlus.
2. Prenatal participants will advise their Home Visitor on the frequency of home visits (weekly, biweekly, once a month) according to their needs.
3. After the baby is born, the Home Based Manager will visit the mother and baby within 2 weeks during a scheduled home visit with the Home Visitor.
   1. The 2-week Home Visit Form for newborn will be discussed/completed.
   2. Additional information will be given to parent if not already received after the birth.
   3. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale screener will be completed with the new mom.
4. The Home Based Manager will advise the PFCE Manager when a 2-week Home Visit Form for the newborn is completed.

Forms and Additional Guidance:

• 2-week Home Visit Form
• Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

POLICY:

Young children can present challenging behaviors in the educational setting. NOCAC Head Start is committed to providing support to staff and a family to address children’s challenging behaviors.

PROCEDURES:

1. NO CHILD can be sent home without the approval of the Head Start/ECE Director or the Child Development/Education Manager.  If they are not available, the Disability Services Coordinator (DSC) can approve.
   1. If this does occur, the DSC will immediately schedule a meeting with the family to determine the next steps for the child.
   2. Staff may refer to the Suspension and Expulsion Policy for further guidance
2. After multiple occurrences of behavior, communication will be made to the DCS to ensure they are aware.
3. All teachers will complete a DECA assessment.
4. The DSC will complete a Mental Health Observation on each classroom starting in the fall.
   1. Concerns regarding individual child observations will be addressed with teaching staff and will start the Child Service Plan Process
5. After observations, or in the case of extreme and unsafe behaviors, teachers will complete the Child Service Plan paperwork with the Classroom Coach and Mentor (CCM) and the DSC.
   1. Address the challenging behaviors and the plans the teaching staff will implement within their classrooms to assist children with reducing challenging behaviors.
   2. The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant may assist teachers in initiating and completing the Child Service Plan
   3. The Child Service Plan will be put in place for 60 Days.
6. If after 60 days behaviors have not been reduced, an Individual Child Observation (form MH-08 Functional Behavior Assessment) will be completed by the CCM or DSC.
   1. This observation will last 1-1.5 hours
   2. Everything the child does within that time frame will be documented and shared with teaching staff and families.
7. A meeting will be set up with the teaching staff, parents, DSC, ECMHC, Center Manager, and any additional support staff deemed necessary.
   1. At this meeting, a summary of the child’s DECA scores, Child Service Plan, and Observations will be discussed.
   2. All parties involved will work to revise the Child Service Plan.
   3. A date will be decided at the meeting when the Child Service Plan will be reviewed.
8. On the review date, individuals will discuss how the Child Service Plan is working.
   1. If the interventions are not successful after implementation, another team meeting with the parents will occur. At said meeting, more options will be discussed and more intensified interventions possibly implemented
      1. Clinical referral may be determined necessary at this time
   2. Once behavior has been corrected or reduced, observations/meetings with the teacher will discontinue. Follow up will be made to check in on child and teacher and follow up with parents will be made.
9. The DSC will do follow up observations and meetings with the teacher as needed.
   1. If no progress is noted or behaviors have gotten severely aggressive and unsafe, a few other options can be tried; such as reducing days, extra staff in the room, transfer to another class time/option, evaluated for a behavior IEP or home base.
   2. At this time the child would continue implementing strategies/interventions and if the behavior improves, they may return to class fully if the situation warrants it. This decision will be made by the DSC and the teacher.
   3. Follow up will be made after 4 weeks to determine if the strategies are helping correct the problem behavior. If not, adjustments will be made to the plan and follow up will continue on a bi-weekly basis.
   4. Staff may refer to the Suspension and Expulsion Policy for further guidance
10. Potentially dangerous behaviors may occur quickly and with little warning.  Staff will take immediate action to ensure the safety of the child and others in the environment.  For the safety of the child and staff, crisis intervention will involve gently yet firmly removing the child from the situation, holding the child only long enough to get him/her to a safe place to quiet down.
11. At any time a behavior plan can be modified for severity of behaviors and safety of class and staff

Forms and Additional Guidance:

Child Service Plan Referral 

Home-based Child Service Plan

Home-based Child Service Plan – SPANISH

Home-based Goal Page Instructions

Center Based Child Service Plan

Center Based Goal Page Instructions

Functional Behavioral Assessment

Classroom Mental Health Observation Form

POLICY:

NOCAC Head Start staff will implement special interventions, as needed, based on the individual needs of the child, by making necessary modifications and providing specialized adaptive equipment.

PROCEDURES:

1. Staff will provide a written request for adaptive equipment in their classroom to the Disability Services Coordinator (DSC).
   1. Request will include
      1. Child’s name and DOB
      2. Site/Classroom
      3. Adaptive equipment they are requesting
      4. Reason for request (behaviors occurring)
      5. How equipment will be used to assist challenging behaviors
      6. Estimated duration of equipment use
2. The DSC will consult with the other service providers who are currently working with the child to determine needs and strengths.
3. If need is determined appropriate, parental involvement and awareness will be facilitated by the DSC.
   1. No adaptive equipment will be made available without consent of parents.
4. The Adaptive Equipment Plan (form MH1 –  Sensory/Adaptive Equipment Plan) will be completed with parental consent.
5. The DSC will make classroom visits to monitor ongoing needs and provide consultation with the classroom staff and parents.

Forms and Additional Guidance:

MH1 – Sensory/Adaptive Equipment Plan

Sensory/Adaptive Equipment Plan – SPANISH

POLICY:

NOCAC Head Start will conduct, within 45 calendar days of the child’s entry into the program, a developmental screening to identify concerns regarding a child’s developmental, behavioral, motor, language, social, cognitive, and emotional skills

PROCEDURES:

DECA Assessment:

1. After 4 weeks of class, all children with regular attendance, teachers will complete a DECA assessment.
   1. The teacher will complete the assessments on the eDECA website or return the DECA form to the Disability Services Coordinator (DSC) for scoring. When completed online, teachers will communicate to the DSC when they are done. The score will be entered into ChildPlus under Health-Social/Emotional Screen by the DSC.
2. Results from screenings will determine the type of individualization the child will receive:
   1. Universal strategies
   2. Targeted strategies
   3. Expanded strategies 
3. Parents and teachers who score their children with low protective factors and high behavior concerns will meet with DSC to discuss individualization
   1. Parents and teachers will receive DECA information strategies in those areas of concern. These strategies will be linked with Conscious Discipline.
   2. If a child has concerns in 2 or more areas of the DECA, the DSC will determine if a referral to an MH Agency is necessary
   3. Children will receive individualization strategies for 60 Days.
4. For children who received individualization, teachers will complete a mid-year DECA assessment
   1. The teacher will return the DECA form to the DSC for scoring. The score will be entered into ChildPlus under Health-Social/Emotional Screen.
   2. the DSC will meet with teachers regarding scores from most recent assessment and work to adjust strategies for children who continue to show low protective factors and high behavior concerns
   3. Meetings with families will be scheduled as needed
   4. Children will continue with previous or updated individualization strategies for 60 days
   5. After 60 days, strategies will be reviewed and meetings scheduled as needed
5. At the end of the school year, teachers and parents will complete a post-year DECA assessment.
   1. The teacher will return the DECA form to the DSC for scoring. The score will be entered into ChildPlus under Health-Social/Emotional Screen.
   2. Teachers will receive a DECA P-2 Classroom/Group Profile based upon parent’s scores.
   3. Parents will receive a DECA Results Letter.

Forms and Additional Guidance:

Mental Health Referral form

POLICY:

NOCAC Head Start will improve classroom management and teacher practices through strategies that include using classroom observations to address teacher and child needs and creating physical environments that promote positive mental health and social-emotional functioning

PROCEDURES:

1. The Disability Services Specialist (DSC) will observe all NOCAC Head Start classrooms twice during the program year, fall and spring, and will complete a checklist and evaluation of the environment and interactions between staff and between staff and children.
2. The DSC will provide onsite observation to promote mental health wellness, classroom dynamics, effective adult-child and adult-adult interactions, positive behavior support and Conscious Discipline.
3. Child observations are recorded on the Classroom Observation Form.
4. Mental health observations will be identified as one of two types:
   1. Classroom Concerns
      1. If concerns are identified with the classroom observation, the DSC will schedule a meeting with the classroom teaching staff and their center manager to develop a plan to address concerns
      2. After the plan is implemented the DSC will observe the classroom in the spring to determine and support progress
   2. Individual Child Concerns
      1. Concerns regarding individual child observations will be addressed with teaching staff and will start the Referral Process.
5. The DSC is responsible for maintaining all classroom observations and documentation

Forms and Additional Guidance:

Mental Health Classroom Observation Form

POLICY:

NOCAC Head Start will provide Mental Health referrals to ensure that support is given to staff and children and their family when mental health concerns arise. NOCAC Head Start will follow up to ensure that services have been provided and have met the identified needs.

PROCEDURES:

1. If the need for mental health services is identified, the staff or family can request an individual mental health observation for a child.
2. Requests will be discussed with the Disabilities Services Coordinator (DSC) regarding the child’s behavior and family situation to identify the best available resource.
3. NOCAC Head Start Staff will share, discuss, and have the parent/guardian sign the referral forms (Permission for Mental Health Observation & Four County Referral. NOCAC Head Start staff will also have the parent/guardian sign a Release of Information (ROI).
4. With signed parent/guardian consent, the DSC will refer children for appropriate mental health support services
5. The Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (ECMHC) may be called upon to observe an individual child with signed parent/guardian consent.
   1. The ECMHC is available for consultation with staff and parents with regard to the identification of children with behavioral difficulties
   2. Parents of children with behavioral difficulties will have an opportunity to participate fully in any behavioral planning for the child
   3. The ECMHC will contact parents to discuss concerns and plan a time for observation
      1. The ECHMC will share the planned observation time with the DSC
      2. The ECMHC will communicate with the DSC what types of services are being requested, such as Diagnostic Assessment for Case Management
   4. The ECMHC will email a written report to the DSC within one week of the service provided.
   5. If the family decides to begin case management services, the name of the case worker will shared with the DSC and communication will occur through the Monthly Contact Form for Children Receiving Mental Health/Behavioral Treatment.
      1. All programs must have written mental health documentation for children who receive mental health services
         1. If a child is enrolled and already receiving mental health services, an ROI will be signed at the initial home visit and given to the DSC

Forms and Additional Guidance:

Mental health Internal Referral Form

Mental Health Observation Form

Consent for Mental Health Observation

Monthly Contact Form for Mental Health Treatment