Gail L. Ensher

Early childhood professionals face many challenges, including: How to provide families the support they need to overcome the challenges they face. How to help parents provide a safe and nurturing environment. How to help children deal with stresses they are too young to handle on their own. Anyone who works with young children from birth to 5 years old and their families will find this book to be invaluable in helping support positive mental health outcomes for newborns, toddlers, and preschoolers. This exceptional tool provides knowledge and practical strategies to address the mental health challenges of families of infants and young children who are at risk for or have social-emotional, medical, health care, and special educational needs or disabilities. This is an essential resource for human service counselors, physicians, early interventionists, early childhood educators, psychologists, family therapists, child protective services and social workers, nurses, clinical professionals (speech, physical, and occupational therapists). and family practice pediatricians.

Developed by two respected early childhood authorities this is a must for all professionals serving families of children birth to age 8 who have disabilities or who may be at risk. Presenting a clear framework for effective relationship-centred care in natural environments, it gives readers the up-to-date information and guidance they need.

This textbook and professional reference offers early interventionists clear information on the proper development of young children as well as risk factors and environmental circumstances that can hinder a child's development. This comprehensive work covers prenatal and perinatal periods; early detection and identification of developmental delays or disorders, and diseases; social factors of development (e.g. cultural diversity, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy); and best practice in specific to clinical educational environments. The volume provides information and resources for preservice and in-service professional development and discusses an extensive, up-to-date range of topics in early childhood development and practice.