A Holistic Approach to Early Relational Health: Cultivating Culture, Diversity, and Equity.

Early Relational Health (ERH) is the foundation for infant and child emotional and social wellbeing. ERH is a quality of relationships co-created by infants, caregivers, and other members of their families and communities from pregnancy through childhood. Relationships themselves are not ERH; rather, ERH can be a feature of relationships. Those that are characterized by positive, shared emotionality become contexts within which members co-develop mutual capacities that enable them to prevail and flourish. This essay offers a synthesis of current knowledge about ERH in the US and begins to integrate Indigenous and non-Indigenous research and knowledge about ERH in the hope that readers will embrace "Etuaptmumk"-"Two-Eyed Seeing". The authors maintain that systems of care for infants, families, and their communities must first and foremost attend to revitalization, cultural context, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Authors discuss key concepts in ERH; Indigenous and non-Indigenous research that inform ERH; structural and systemic factors in the US that affect ERH ecosystems; the critical intersections of culture, diversity, equity; the broader concept of village support for fostering ERH; and efforts to revitalize ERH discourse, practices, and policies. The authors advocate for a holistic approach to ERH and suggest future directions for research and advocacy.

"A Judgment-Free Zone": Adaptation and Pilot Study of a Virtual Wellness Group for African American Mothers with Young Children.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for the mental health of African American (AA) birthing people. The pandemic necessitated shifting mental health care to online interventions. The goals of this study were to (1) describe an adapted evidence-based group preventive intervention for AA mothers with young children within a pediatric setting and (2) evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of this virtual intervention. Phase 1 describes the adaptation of the HealthySteps Mom's Virtual Wellness Group, including eight weekly sessions based on the Mothers and Babies Course. Phase 2 was a mixed-methods, pre-post intervention design. Six AA mothers with young children completed questionnaires related to depression, anxiety, and parenting competence at three time points: pre-intervention (T1), post-intervention (T2), and 3 months post-intervention (T3). The participants also completed a focus group post-T2 to gather qualitative feedback regarding the intervention. The median scores for depression were lower at T2 and increased at T3, and for anxiety, they increased at T2 and decreased at T3. The median scores for parenting competence increased across the three time points. The participants attended a mean of 7.2 sessions (SD = 0.74). The qualitative results indicate that the participants gained a sense of empowerment, enjoyed connecting with other mothers, and acquired information. This pilot study suggests that a virtual intervention is feasible, acceptable, and can increase parenting competence and support among AA mothers with young children.

Advancing early relational health: a collaborative exploration of a research agenda.

Here, we introduce the Early Relational Health (ERH) Learning Community's bold, large-scale, collaborative, data-driven and practice-informed research agenda focused on furthering our mechanistic understanding of ERH and identifying feasible and effective practices for making ERH promotion a routine and integrated component of pediatric primary care. The ERH Learning Community, formed by a team of parent/caregiver leaders, pediatric care clinicians, researchers, and early childhood development specialists, is a workgroup of Nurture Connection-a hub geared toward promoting ERH, i.e., the positive and nurturing relationship between young children and their parent(s)/caregiver(s), in families and communities nationwide. In response to the current child mental health crisis and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement promoting ERH, the ERH Learning Community held an in-person meeting at the AAP national headquarters in December 2022 where members collaboratively designed an integrated research agenda to advance ERH. This agenda weaves together community partners, clinicians, and academics, melding the principles of participatory engagement and human-centered design, such as early engagement, co-design, iterative feedback, and cultural humility. Here, we present gaps in the ERH literature that prompted this initiative and the co-design activity that led to this novel and iterative community-focused research agenda, with parents/caregivers at the core, and in close collaboration with pediatric clinicians for real-world promotion of ERH in the pediatric primary care setting.

Leveraging the Expertise of the Community: A Case for Expansion of a Peer Workforce in Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health.

The rise in child and adolescent mental health concerns has led to the need for an expanded workforce to meet the needs of our nation's families. Peer paraprofessionals (PPs) have proven to be impactful in the areas of adult mental health (MH) and substance use disorders, and for persons with chronic medical conditions. PPs can contribute to addressing child, adolescent, and family MH needs by being deployed in community settings and providing both emotional and tangible support to families and children. Additional use of PPs can address equity gaps in MH services by improving access to support and enhancing the cultural acceptability of MH interventions. A concentrated effort to expand and develop this workforce may help to alleviate the strain on the current MH system. The Georgetown University Infant and Early Childhood Certificate program is a paraprofessional training program that prepares community members to meet the MH needs of families with young children. The authors will describe the results of a qualitative study examining the landscape of peer paraprofessional services in DC that was conducted to support the expansion of the peer workforce to include individuals with expertise in infant and early childhood mental health.

At the feet of storytellers: Equity in early relational health conversations.

Early Relational Health (ERH) focuses attention on family-baby relationships during the first 1000 days of life. Positive ERH enhances child health and development and family wellbeing. Universal, early identification of RH and vulnerability could add value to care. How to screen, when, where, and with whom is the question. Tools and models for screening are practitioner-centered. Bias can affect family engagement and outcomes. This may be problematic for African American families. Authors present findings of a discourse analysis and phenomenological study of experiences of African American families' and HealthySteps Specialists' (HSS) of color with screening ERH in Washington, D.C., USA (N = 13). Findings indicate relevance, acceptance and utility may be influenced by positionality, cultural context, issues of equity, and engagement in mutual reflection. A family-centered approach that opened space for non-dominant knowledge about ERH made positive differences in engagement and utility for families and practioners alike. Health and vulnerability were detected reliably using this approach. Outcomes include new theories about ERH-focused visits with African American families and infants, and a new model for centering ERH in pediatric practice, entitled Early Relational Health Conversations. ERH-C is a family reflection model, not necessarily dyadic. It may have value for other populations. Future directions in ERH-C research are suggested.

La Temprana Salud de la Relación (ERH) enfoca su atención en las relaciones entre la familia y el bebé durante los primeros 1000 días de vida. Una positiva ERH mejora la salud y el desarrollo del niño y el bienestar de la familia. Una identificación universal y temprana de RH y la vulnerabilidad pudieran ser valiosas para el cuidado. La pregunta es cómo detectar, cuándo, dónde y con quién. Las herramientas y los modelos para la detección se centran en los profesionales de la práctica. Los prejuicios pueden afectar la participación familiar y los resultados. Esto pudiera ser problemático para familias afroamericanas. Los autores presentan resultados de un análisis discursivo y un estudio fenomenológico de experiencias de las familias afroamericanas y los especialistas de HealthySteps (HSS) de raza negra con respecto a la detección de ERH en Washington, D.C. (N = 13). Los resultados indican relevancia, aceptación y utilidad para las familias afroamericanas y que circunstancias de posición, contexto cultural, asuntos de equidad y participación en reflexión mutua pudieran influir a los HSS. Un acercamiento centrado en la familia que abrió la oportunidad para el conocimiento no dominante acerca de ERH produjo diferencias positivas en la participación y utilidad tanto para las familias como los profesionales de la práctica. La salud y la vulnerabilidad se detectaron confiablemente usando este acercamiento. Los resultados incluyen nuevas teorías sobre los acercamientos a la detección y un nuevo modelo de detección: Las Conversaciones de la Temprana Salud de la Relación (ERH-C). ERH-C es un modelo de reflexión familiar, no necesariamente diádico. El mismo pudiera ser valioso para otros grupos de población. Se aportan futuras directrices en la investigación de ERH-C.

La Santé Relationnelle Précoce (SRP en français) met l'attention sur les relations famille-bébé durant les 1000 premiers jours de la vie. Une SRP positive renforce la santé de l'enfant, le développement, et la santé de la famille. Une identification universelle et précoce de la Santé Relationnelle et de la vulnérabilité pourrait ajouter de la valeur aux soins. La question se pose: comment dépister, quand, où et avec qui. Les outils et les modèles de dépistages sont centrés sur les praticiens. La partialité peut affecter l'engagement de la famille et les résultats. Ceci peut s'avérer problématique pour les familles noires. Les auteurs présentent les résultats d'une analyse de discours et d'une étude phénoménologique des expériences des familles noires et des Spécialistes de Healthy Steps (HSS) racialisés avec le dépistage ERH à Washington DC aux Etats-Unis (N = 13). Les résultats indiquent que la pertinence, l'acceptation et l'utilité peuvent être influencées par la position, le contexte culturel, les problèmes d'équité et l'engagement dans une réflexion mutuelle. Une approche centrée sur la famille qui a ouvert un espace pour des connaissances non-dominantes à propos de la SRP a fait une différence positive dans l'engagement et l'utilité pour les familles ainsi que pour les praticiens. La santé et la vulnérabilité ont été détectés avec fiabilité en utilisant cette approche. Les résultats incluent de nouvelles théories sur les visites centrées sur la SRP avec des familles noires et leurs nourrissons, et un nouveau modèle de centrage de la SRP dans la pratique pédiatrique, appelée Conversations sur la Santé Relationnelle Précoce. La C-SRP est un modèle de réflexion familiale, pas nécessairement dyadique. Ce modèle peut avoir une valeur pour d'autres populations. Des directions futures pour des recherches sur la C-SRP sont suggérées.

At the feet of storytellers: Implications for practicing early relational health conversations.

A family- and culturally-centered approach to conversations about early relational health (ERH) can open up opportunities for universal family engagement. The appraisal of family-baby relational health is more trustworthy and useful when there is attunement to family voice and facilitator bias. Early Relational Health Conversations (ERH-C) is a model for ERH promotion and intervention. This model has eight components: preparing and entering the ERH-C space, accessing strength and knowledge in a healing-centered space, pausing and co-creating, storytelling, witnessing, mutual reflection, affirming, and claiming their relationship narrative, and mutual insight. It is a paradigm shift in working with African American families and possibly other historically marginalized families who are also impacted by structural racism. The eight components are explained, and examples are given from the perspective of an Africentric worldview. The importance of cultural humility, attuning to and honoring family culture is emphasized. Insights for implementation in primary care and other settings are provided. Healing-centered engagement practices embedded in ERH-C have the potential to move ERH work into the social justice arena. The ERH-C is a family reflection model. Ideas for future directions for ERH-C are discussed.

Un acercamiento a conversaciones sobre la salud de la temprana relación (ERH) con base en la familia y en el medio cultural puede abrir oportunidades para la participación familiar universal. La evaluación de la salud de la relación familia-bebé es más confiable y útil cuando hay un ajuste a la voz de la familia y a los prejuicios del mediador. Las Conversaciones de la Salud de la Temprana Relación (ERH-C) es un modelo para la promoción e intervención ERH. Este modelo tiene ocho componentes: preparar y entrar en el espacio de ERH-C, evaluar la fortaleza y el conocimiento en un espacio centrado en la sanación, detenerse y co-crear, contar historias, ser testigo, reflexión mutua, afirmar y reclamar la narrativa de su relación, mutuo aporte de ideas. Se trata de un cambio de paradigma cuando se trabaja con familias afroamericanas y posiblemente con otras familias históricamente marginalizadas que también reciben el impacto del racismo estructural. Se explican los ocho componentes y se dan ejemplos desde la perspectiva de una vista mundial afro-céntrica. Se enfatiza la importancia de la humildad cultural, estar en sintonía con y honrar la cultura familiar. Se aportan ideas para la implementación en el cuidado primario y otros escenarios. Las prácticas de participación centradas en la sanación que son parte de ERH-C tienen la posibilidad de incorporar ERH dentro del campo de la justicia social. ERH-C es un modelo de reflexión de familia. Se discuten ideas para directrices futuras de ERH-C.

Une approche aux conversations sur la Santé Relationnelle Précoce (SRP), centrée sur la famille et la culture, peut ouvrir de nouvelles portes pour l'engagement de la famille universel. L'appréciation de la santé relationnelle famille-bébé est plus digne de confiance et utile que lorsqu'il y a une harmonisation avec la voix de la famille et une partialité de la part du facilitateur. Les Conversations sur la Santé Relationnelle Précoce (C-SRP) est un modèle de promotion de ls SRP et d'intervention. Ce modèle comprend huit aspects: la préparation et l'entrée de l'espace C-SRP, l'accès aux forces et aux connaissances dans un espace centré sur la guérison, faire une pause et créer ensemble, la narration, le témoignage, la réflexion mutuelle, l'affirmation de la narration de la relation et sa revendication, et la perspicacité mutuelle. Ce modèle présente un changement de paradigme dans le travail avec les familles noires américaines et peut-être également d'autres familles marginalisées qui sont aussi impactées par le racisme structurel. Les huit composantes sont expliquées et des exemples sont données de la perspective d'une vision du monde africentrique. L'importance de l'humilité culturelle, d'être à l'écoute de la culture de la famille et d'honorer la culture familiale est également soulignée. Des idées pour la mise en pratique au sein des soins primaires et d'autres contextes sont offertes. Des pratiques d'engagement centrées sur la guérison encastrées dans la C-SRP peuvent faire progresser le travail de SRP vers le domaine de la justice sociale. La C-SRP est un modèle de réflexion de la famille. Des idées de directions futures pour la C-SRP sont discutées.

Advancing Antiracism in Community-Based Research Practices in Early Childhood and Family Mental Health.

Structural racism-the ways that institutional policies, practices, and other norms operate to create and sustain race-based inequities1-has historically been foundational to the operations of academic medical centers and research institutions. Since its inception, academic medicine has depended on the exploitation of vulnerable communities to achieve medical, educational, and research goals.2 Research practices have long ignored or taken advantage of the individuals purportedly benefiting from the research, a dynamic most manifestly true for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in the United States. Reflecting current practices in racial justice work, we intentionally use the term "BIPOC" to highlight shared experiences within racially and ethnically minoritized communities, given the history of White supremacy in the United States. We acknowledge limitations of this term, which collapses myriad unique communities and histories into one construct. Specifically, child and adolescent psychiatry has historically been driven by Eurocentric approaches, paradigms, and methodology. These nonparticipatory dominant research practices have contributed to a lack of culturally responsive interventions for BIPOC communities, a paucity of evidence-based practices with demonstrated effectiveness within BIPOC communities, and disparities in access and quality of care.3 Mental health research involving BIPOC communities has been replete with exploitation and inequality.2.

The therapeutic relationship in child therapy: perspectives of children and mothers.

Examined qualities of the therapeutic relationship as perceived by low-income children who were in treatment for serious emotional disorders and their mothers. Recent emphasis on engaging families in the treatment of their children highlights the importance of understanding processes that facilitate therapeutic partnerships. Therapeutic bonds (i.e., the closeness of the relationship to therapist) for both children and their mothers were assessed. One-hundred fifty-seven families participated. Cross-sectional analyses indicated that children's perceptions of closeness with their therapists were associated with their perceptions of closeness with their mothers, their own age, and welfare status of the family. Maternal therapy bond scores were associated with mental health services efficacy and breadth of social support.