Talking with Families About Depression
This resource provides tips for staff to help them have conversations with families about depression.
Mental Health
Head Start programs support the mental health of children, families, and staff every day. Early childhood mental health is the same as social and emotional well-being. It is a child’s developing capacity to express and regulate emotions, form trusting relationships, explore, and learn—all in the cultural context of family and community. The mental health of children and the adults that care for them is essential for school readiness.
Family Connections Workshop Series for Staff and Parents
Explore these six workshops, three for professionals and three for parents. All of the workshops focus on knowledge and skills related to strengthening relationships with adults and children and promoting family well-being.
5 Action Steps to Address Maternal Depression in Head Start Programs
While roughly 15% of new mothers suffer from maternal depression, the rates are much higher in families with lower incomes. In fact, 52% of mothers in an Early Head Start research study reported high levels of depressive symptoms.
Depression in Mothers: More Than the Blues – A Toolkit for Family Service Providers
The toolkit provides information about depression and offers ideas that providers can use daily when helping mothers and their families.
Family Connections: A Mental Health Consultation Model
Explore Family Connections, a preventive, systemwide mental health consultation and training approach to strengthen the capacity of Early Head Start and Head Start staff. Staff can use these resources in working with families dealing with parental depression and related adversities.
Understanding Depression
Use this tip sheet to identify the signs of depression. It can be shared with parents so that they learn how to take care of themselves and seek help when necessary.