Why Early Intervention is Vital in the First Five Years
When it comes to shaping young minds, the old adage “it takes a village to raise a child” reigns true. When it comes to infants and young children who have experienced trauma, it is absolutely critical.
At Goodstart,our priority is to ensure the best possible learning, development and wellbeing outcomes of all children, including the most vulnerable. To highlight the importance of infant mental health, we interviewed Goodstart’s Child and Family Service National Manager, Alma-Jane O’Donnell. Alma supports the delivery of Goodstart’s universal practises and targeted interventions aimed at enhancing children’s social and emotional development from birth to school age – particularly for children who have experienced trauma.
Firstly, can you tell us about the importance of Infant Meant Health week? (13th-19th June)
We are seeing great strides being made about the importance of early intervention, following the release of the 2020 Australian Mental Health Productivity Commission Inquiry report. It calls for the strengthening of early childhood educator’s skills to meet the needs of children’s social and emotional development from birth to three years.
Unfortunately though, we are at a tipping point with our children who have experienced trauma – where we are increasingly seeing more and more children whose mental health has been compromised. This is also relevant in data showing a significant increase nationally, in child protection notifications.
We’ve seen many families that were coping before COVID-19, but the toll of the pandemic has added additional anxiety and stress and they are starting to break down.
It is important now that we focus, as a nation, on what we can do to support these children.
What are the signs of a child who has experienced trauma?
There are many, but often these are the children that are displaying quite volatile behaviours like breaking windows, throwing chairs or hurting themselves.
It’s devastating to witness and sadly, across the community, trauma-induced behaviours are misunderstood. We often hear parents request that educators ensure that their child doesn’t play with these children.
However, this child is just like any other child but has had a tougher upbringing, and the trauma has affected their development(in particular, their ability to regulate).
This is where we can step in to support them at Goodstsart with targeted support programs.
Tell us about what Goodstart is doing to support infant’s mental health?
There are many ways, through our everyday high-quality practices and interactions with children. We also have an effective and targeted program that supports children who have experienced significant trauma. This bespoke, child-centred Intensive Individual Support Plan addresses the unique needs of each child’s development and wellbeing outcomes.
This program supports educators to develop a greater understanding of the child, building mutual confidence and trust between the child and their educator.
We’re really proud of the programs evaluation by The University of Adelaide, which showed the program was effective in increasing children’s ability to name their emotions, improving language skills, increasing their capacity to participate in learning experiences and demonstrating more empathy toward their peers.
Tell us more about how the Intensive Individual Support Plan has been applied?
Goodstart’s Intensive Individual Support Plans have supported more than 250 children attending Goodstart centres. The approach involves an educator working one-on-one with a child under the guidance of a Child and Family Practitioner, using trauma-informed and gradient attachment-based practices.
The 12-week Intensive Support Plan focuses on helping each child feel a strong sense of belonging, by experiencing a warm and responsive relationship. With this foundation in place, they thrive because they feel safe, nurtured, and valued, leading to better learning outcomes.
Why is addressing trauma important to a young child?
Research tells us that the earlier we can intervene, better life long outcomes will be achieved for children who have experienced trauma.
Due to COVID-19 and other recent events, are you seeing more children who have experienced trauma?
Absolutely. Our Social Inclusion helpdesk team is currently processing about three referrals a week from our centre network. Whereas, last year, it would have been three referrals a month. These referrals come from our centres, as well as external agencies who are seeking to support the child to access early learning. Our team assists in placing the child at the right Goodstart centre and with the right support around them.
We are ready to respond to support these children, to ensure they get the support they need.
What is the role of early learning in helping these children?
High quality early learning can provide a safe and nurturing environment for these children – we can provide the little ones with what they need.
Spotlight: Case Study
Goodstart’s Intensive Individual Support Plans are changing the life trajectory of children just like four-year-old Harry*.
Harry’s upbringing has been chaotic — marked by a family home life of domestic violence at the hands of his father. Living in constant fear and in order to cope, he learnt to trust no-one.
After his father was jailed, his mother and siblings received the support of a refuge and Harry was referred to a local Goodstart centre. During Harry’s Kindergarten orientation, the centre team observed several trauma-related behaviours and applied for additional inclusion support — funded by Goodstart. Goodstart’s 12-week Intensive Individual Support Plan was quickly implemented to ensure Harry recieved the support he needed. At the same time, educators received trauma training to equip them with strategies to respond to Harry’s behaviour cues and needs.
Within weeks of starting at the centre, the positive impact the dedicated out-of-ratio educator, Jane, and the intensive plan was having on Harry’s development, was visible.
Jane discovered Harry’s love of sensory play and started incorporating it into learning activities. Harry learned to trust Jane and his fears reduced visibly within weeks. By week three, Harry had made a friend and started to sit near other children.
By week 7, much progress had been made, but his life was thrown into chaos with news of his father being released from jail, potentially placing his mother at risk. The family was relocated and, by working with Child Protection services, Goodstart was able to continue supporting Harry at a new Goodstart centre. Harry’s Intensive Individual Support Plan continued, and he is now engaging well with other children in small groups.
Harry has had no escalations in behaviours, and his confidence and communication skills have improved dramatically.
Because of this support, his mother can now undertake further study to gain employment and improve the family’s financial and living conditions.
* To protect the child and family’s identity, the child’s name has been changed.
Through the 'Early Learning Fund', Goodstart Early Learning, together with Benevolent Society and Uniting, are providing vulnerable families and children access to 2 days per week of quality early learning in the 2 years before school. The fee relief ensues that children are getting the same opportunities to grow, learn and develop better outcomes throughout school and life.
More info can be found here: Early Learning Fund
Words: Alma-Jane O'Donnell
Alma-Jane is the National Manager of Child and Family Services for Goodstart Early Learning. Alma-Jane holds a masters degree in Infant Mental Health.
Originally published in Connected Caregiving Winter 2022
