Childcare advocates attend mental health conference on children
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Approximately 85 people attended an infant mental health conference held Saturday at Tabor College. They included medical and mental health professionals, childcare providers, teachers, early childhood service providers, and parents.
The event was coordinated by Marion County Early Childhood Task Force, with funding from Kansas Association of Childcare Resource and Referral agencies.
Conference facilitator was Martin Maldonado, M.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist who specializes in infants and families and the attachment patterns of children and their caretakers.
Maldonado formerly was associated with Menninger Clinic and now works at the Family Service and Guidance Center in Topeka.
In three sessions, Maldonado presented examples of regulatory or problem behaviors in infants and pre-schoolers, such as hyper-sensitivity, hyper-activity, or anger. He also identified appropriate responses by caregivers to modify behavior, such as using a soothing tone of voice or changing the environment.
"One approach does not fit all children," he said.
He noted caregivers must empathize with the child and be realistic about how much modification in behavior can be expected.
He said it is important that all caregivers including parents understand the situation and work together to help the child.
Marion County Early Childhood Task Force is made up of representatives from the following social service agencies: Marion County Early Intervention Services, Marion County Health Department, Parents as Teachers, Head Start, Prairie View, East Central Kansas Childcare Resource and Referral Agency, and KSU/Marion County Extension services.
The task force operates under the umbrella of Communities In Schools of Marion County.
