Resource Library

Since 1988, we have partnered with practitioners, scientists and policy makers across Canada to create and share resources that promote best practices and policies in infant and early mental health. The resources we create are informed by the science of infant and early mental health to support the unique needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and all those who support their wellbeing. For more exclusive resources tailored specifically for our members, please visit our 'Member-Exclusive Resources' page.

What's New

Screening for Success: A Policy Brief on Implementing Developmental Screening for Children Aged 0-6

Description:

Calling all parents, educators, and policymakers! Learn why routine developmental screenings matter for every child. Our policy brief uncovers key insights and recommendations for supporting early childhood development.

 

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Explore More Resources Below

Recognizing and Responding to Trauma in Infants and Young Children in the Care of Child Protection

Description:

This video series will provide foster parents, kinship and customary care providers insight into the unique mental health needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers involved with the child welfare system. Recognizing the trauma of such experiences, this series will explore what trauma looks like in young children as well as ways caregivers can respond to best support a young child’s wellbeing.

Format: Video


Infant and Early Mental Health Competencies Checklist

Description:

Expanding on the Competency Framework, the Competencies Checklist outlines the specific set of knowledge and skills associated with each category. Individuals and/or agencies can use this checklist to determine their areas of strength and areas of opportunity to enhance their practice with infants, young children and their families.

Format: PDF


A Call to Action on Behalf of Maltreated Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers in Canada

Description:

Child protection policies, practices and services need to reflect the unique needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers and recognize their trauma and impact it can have on their developmental needs. A Call To Action higlights the knowledge, policies and practices that can better suppot the needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers involved with child protection services.

Format: PDF

Sleep Discussion Guide

Description:

The Sleep Discussion Guide was developed in consultation with experts and is intended to support service providers working with families to have access to helpful information in their sleep-related discussions with parents and caregivers.

Format: PDF

Comfort, Play and Teach - Activities

Description:

Through comfort, play and teach interactions parents and caregivers can support their child's wellbeing. The Comfort, Play and Teach resource offers parents suggestions for engaging with their infant, toddler or preschooler and understanding how that experience supports their child's development and wellbeing. These pages can be printed and shared with parents.

Format: PDF

Helping Your Child Get Ready for School

Description:

Whether children are heading into kindergarten, going into a group setting for the first time, or changing schools, this parent-friendly resource provides relational strategies to help with this important, and sometimes overwhelming transition.

Format: PDF

Picking the Best Books for Your Child

Description:

This resource offers helpful tips for choosing age-appropriate books while highlighting key areas of development during these ages and stages. The resource is designed as a downloadable, printable tool for service providers that can also be shared with families and caregivers of children aged 0 to 5.

Format: PDF

Supporting Ontario's Youngest Minds: Investing in the Mental Health of Children Under 6

Description:

This policy paper focuses on infant and early childhood mental health services availability and accessibility in Ontario, with the purpose of advancing evidence-informed policy recommendations to strengthen these services in the province.

Format: External Link

Talking about Baby Sleep: Improving Sleep Outcomes in Infancy

Presenters:

Robyn Stremler, RN, PhD, Associate Professor, Director, PhD Program, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Format: Video

HEADS-ED Community Consultation and Discussion

Presenters:

Mario Cappelli, Senior Clinician Scientist, Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child & Youth Mental Health, CHEO

Format: Video

HEADS-ED Mental Health Screening Tool

Presenters:

Mario Cappelli, Senior Clinician Scientist, Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child & Youth Mental Health, CHEO
Dr. Ashley Radomski, Post-doctoral fellow, Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health
Joel Schryer, Program Manager, Mental Health and Quality Improvement, Children First - Windsor

Format: Video

Beyond Building Blocks: Investing in the Lifelong Mental Health of Ontario's 3-6-Year-Olds

Description:

Mobilizing the current state of infant and early mental health and guided by the expertise of a 23-member advisory committee, this paper offers up eight key recommendations to guide our collective response to support positive mental heath and wellbeing in Ontario’s 3-to-6-year-olds.

Format: External Link

Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion

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