Reflections on the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® process in Virginia.

This study was conducted to gather information to inform key stakeholders in Virginia's Early Childhood Mental Health workforce who are involved in the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® . An "Endorsement® indicates an individual's efforts to specialize in the promotion and practice of infant or early childhood mental health within his/her own chosen discipline" (Virginia Association for Infant Mental Health, 2021). The following research questions guided this study: (1) who is part of the infant mental health endorsed workforce in Virginia; (2) what are the benefits and barriers to the Endorsement® process. A total of 115 individuals who were or are involved in the Endorsement® as endorsees or advisors were participants in the study. Participants cited many benefits of obtaining their Infant Mental Health Endorsement® , including general professional development and connecting to other professionals in the field. Barriers to obtaining the Endorsement® included time and financial restraints related to obtaining reflective supervision from a qualified Reflective Supervisor. Results from the study will be used to inform the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® process, and applied to the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® in 2023.

Este estudio se llevó a cabo para recoger información para informarles a las partes interesadas de la fuerza laboral del campo de Salud Mental en la Temprana Niñez de Virginia que participan en el Endoso® de Salud Mental Infantil. Un "Endoso® o Aceptación indica los esfuerzos de un individuo de especializarse en la promoción y práctica de salud mental infantil o en la temprana niñez dentro de su escogida disciplina." (Asociación de Salud Mental Infantil de Virginia, 2021). Las siguientes preguntas investigativas guiaron este estudio: 1) ¿quién es parte de la aceptada fuerza laboral de salud mental infantil en Virginia?; 2) ¿cuáles son los beneficios y obstáculos al proceso de Endoso® o Aceptación? Un total de 115 individuos que estaban o están participando en el proceso de Endoso® como personas que aceptan o como consejeros fue el número de participantes en el estudio. Los participantes citaron muchos beneficios de obtener su Endoso® de Salud Mental Infantil, incluyendo el desarrollo profesional general y la conexión con otros profesionales en el campo. Entre los obstáculos de obtener el Endoso® se incluyen las restricciones de tiempo y financieras relacionadas con conseguir una supervisión con reflexión por parte de un Supervisor con Reflexión calificado. Los resultados del estudio se usarán para apoyar el proceso de Endoso® de Salud Mental Infantil y aplicar el Endoso® de Salud Mental en la Temprana Niñez en 2023.

Cette étude a été faite pour rassembler des données afin d'informer les parties prenantes clés du personnel de Santé Mentale de la Petite Enfance de l'état de Virginie aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique qui sont impliqués dans l'initiative d'endossement Infant Mental Health Endorsement®. Un "endossement" ("Endorsement®") "indique les efforts d'un individu pour se spécialiser dans la promotion et la pratique de la santé mentale du nourrisson ou de la petite enfance au soin de sa propre discipline choisie ¼ (Virginia Association for Infant Mental Health, 2021). Les questions de recherche suivantes ont guide cette étude: 1) qui fait partie du personnel endossé de la santé mentale de la petite enfance en Virginie; 2) quels sont les avantages et les obstacles au processus d'endossement (Endorsement®). Un total de 115 individus qui étaient ou sont impliqués dans l'endossement ou des conseillers ont constitué les participants à l'étude. Les participants ont indiqué plusieurs bénéfices à obtenir leur Endossement de Santé Mentale de la Petite Enfance, y compris la formation professionnelle générale et les contacts avec d'autres professionnels du domaine. Les obstacles à l'obtention de l'Endossement ont inclus le manque de temps ou les restrictions financières liées à l'obtention de la supervision de réflexion d'un Superviseur de Réflexion qualifié. Les résultats de cette étude seront utilisés afin d'améliorer le processus de l'endossement Infant Mental Health Endorsement®, et appliqués à l'endossement Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® en 2023.

Japanese infants' attachment insecurity and externalizing/internalizing problems: Using strange situation and attachment Q-sort methods.

According to attachment theory, an infant-mother attachment is universal, and infants who develop an insecure attachment relationship with their mother are likely to show mental health problems compared to those who develop a secure attachment relationship. These hypotheses have been empirically supported in Western cultures. However, the cross-cultural evidence is still insufficient. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between Japanese infants' attachment insecurity and mental health problems. We studied 81 Japanese infants (Mage = 14.64 months, SD = 1.43, females = 54%) mostly from middle-class families. The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) and Attachment Q-sort (AQS) assessed infant attachment security. Infant externalizing and internalizing problems were rated concurrently by the mother and 6 months later by the mother and another adult (father or grandmother). Japanese infants' attachment insecurity measured by the AQS was associated with their externalizing problems concurrently and 6 months later. Infants with insecure-resistant attachment measured by the SSP had higher externalizing problems compared to those with secure attachment concurrently (not 6 months later). Attachment insecurity was not related to internalizing problems. These findings partly supported the association between attachment insecurity and mental health problems. This research also recommends observing infant attachment at home.

De acuerdo con la teoría de la afectividad, una unión afectiva infante-madre es universal y los infantes que desarrollan una insegura relación de afectividad con sus madres están propensos a mostrar problemas de salud mental, comparados con aquellos que desarrollan una relación afectiva segura. Estas hipótesis han sido empíricamente apoyadas en las culturas occidentales. Sin embargo, la evidencia entre las culturas es aún insuficiente. El propósito de este estudio fue examinar la asociación entre la inseguridad de la afectividad de los infantes japoneses y los problemas de salud mental. Estudiamos a 81 infantes japoneses (edad promedio = 14.64 meses, SD = 1.43, niñas = 54%), principalmente de familias de clase media. El Procedimiento de la Situación Extraña (SSP) y la Afectividad Q-sort (AQS) evaluaron la seguridad de afectividad del infante. Las madres, concurrentemente, les dieron un puntaje a los problemas de externalización e internalización del infante, y seis meses después los hicieron la madre y otro adulto (el padre o la abuela). La inseguridad de la afectividad de los infantes japoneses, tal como se midió por medio de AQS, se asoció con sus problemas de externalización concurrentemente y seis meses después. Los infantes con una afectividad insegura y de resistencia, tal como se midió por SSP, tenían más altos problemas de externalización comparados con aquellos con una afectividad segura concurrentemente (no a los seis meses después). La inseguridad de la afectividad no se relacionó con problemas de internalización. Estos resultados en parte apoyan la asociación entre la inseguridad de la afectividad y los problemas de salud mental. Esta investigación también recomienda observar la afectividad del infante en casa.

Selon la théorie de l'attachement, l'attachement bébé-mère est universel, et les bébés qui développent une relation d'attachement insécure avec leur mère sont à même de présenter des problèmes de santé mentale comparés à ceux ayant développé une relation d'attachement sécure. Ces hypothèses ont été soutenues empiriquement dans les cultures occidentales. Cependant l'évidence transculturelle demeure insuffisante. Le but de cette étude était d'examiner le lien entre la sécurité de l'attachement des nourrissons japonais et les problèmes de santé mentale. Nous avons étudié 81 nourrissons japonais (Mâge = 14,64 mois, SD = 1.43, filles = 54%) en grande partie issues de la classe moyenne. La Procédure de Situation Etrange (SSP) et l'AQS (en anglais Attachment Q-sort) ont évalué la sécurité de l'attachement du bébé. Les problèmes d'externalisation et d'internalisation du bébé ont été évalués en même temps par la mère et six mois plus tard par la mère et un autre adulte (père ou grand-mère). L'insécurité de l'attachement des bébés japonais mesurée par le AQS était liée à des problèmes d'externalisation simultanément et six mois plus tard. Les bébés avec un attachement insécure-résistant mesuré par le SSP avaient des problèmes d'externalisation plus importants comparé à ceux avec un attachement sécure simultané (pas six mois plus tard). L'insécurité de l'attachement n'était pas liée à des problèmes d'internalisation. Ces résultats soutiennent partiellement le lien entre l'insécurité de l'attachement et les problèmes de santé mentale. Cette recherche recommande aussi d'observer l'attachement du bébé à domicile.

Coparenting Problems and Parenting Behavior as Mediating Links Between Interparental Conflict and Toddlers' Adjustment Difficulties in Germany.

Objective: Interparental conflict has long been acknowledged as a major risk factor for the well-being of children. Empirical studies reveal clear associations between children's maladjustment and frequent destructive conflicts between their parents (van Eldik et al., 2020). Existing research suggests that interparental conflict spills over from the couple to the coparental relationship, undermining parents' skills to cooperate and their parenting competencies. This study addresses the effects of interparental conflict on the behavioral and emotional problems of toddlers. Methods: The analyses were based on longitudinal data from the German Family Panel pairfam. The sample comprised information on N = 828 anchor participants (59.9 % female) and their 3- to 5-year-old children. Results: As expected, the effects of interparental conflict on children's behavioral and emotional problems were mediated by coparenting problems and in part also by negative parenting. Further analyses comparing mothers and fathers revealed a stronger direct path of interparental conflict on coparenting for mothers. Conclusions: The findings provide support for the significance of the interparental relationship and coparenting quality for child development, even in this young age group, and point to the importance of early prevention.

Higher maternal reflective functioning is associated with toddlers' adaptive emotion regulation.

Parental reflective functioning (RF), the ability to consider the child's behavior as a function of mental states (cognitions, emotions), is theorized to promote emotion regulation in children via its positive impact on parenting sensitivity. Using a sample of mothers and toddlers (N = 151 dyads; 41% Latinx; 54% girls; MAge  = 21 months; SDAge  =  2.5 months), we measured mothers' self-reported RF (high RF = low certainty/high interest-curiosity/low prementalizing), toddlers' distress during a standardized challenging behavioral task (toy removal), and three methods of children's coping with distress. Then, we tested whether RF moderated the association between children's observed distress and coping during the task (mother-directed adaptive coping, task-directed adaptive coping, maladaptive aggression) as an index of emotion regulation. Although RF was not associated with toddlers' distress, indices of RF moderated the associations between distress and coping. As maternal RF increased, the positive association between toddler distress and mother-oriented behavior increased, whereas the association between toddler distress and child aggression decreased. Findings were present only for certainty of mental states, whereas no effects were present for prementalizing or interest/curiosity. We discuss these findings in terms of their contributions to theory regarding parent-child relationships, maternal RF, and child emotion regulation.

La función de reflexión de los padres (RF), la habilidad de considerar el comportamiento del niño como una función de los estados mentales, promueve, según la teoría, la regulación de la emoción en los niños por medio de su impacto en la sensibilidad de los progenitores. Con un grupo muestra de madres y niños pequeñitos (N = 151 díadas; 41% Latinx; 54% niñas; Edad M = 21 meses; Edad SD = 2.5 meses), medimos la auto-reportada RF de las madres (RF alta = baja certeza/alto interés-curiosidad/baja pre-mentalización), la angustia de los niños pequeñitos durante una tarea estándar de reto de comportamiento (apartar un juguete) y tres métodos de cómo los niños se las arreglan con la angustia. Entonces, pusimos a prueba si la RF moderaba la asociación entre la observada angustia de los niños pequeñitos y el arreglárselas con la tarea (el arreglárselas con adaptarse a la directriz de la madre, el arreglárselas con adaptarse a la directriz de la tarea, agresión mal adaptada) como índice de regulación de la emoción. A pesar de que no se asoció la RF con la angustia de los niños pequeñitos, los índices de RF moderaron las asociaciones entre la angustia y el proceso de arreglárselas. A medida que la RF aumentó, también aumentó la positiva asociación entre la angustia del niño pequeñito con ambas, orientado hacia la madre, mientras que la asociación entre la angustia del niño pequeñito y la agresividad del niño disminuyó. Los resultados estuvieron presentes sólo en cuanto a la certeza de los estados mentales, mientras que ningún efecto se presentó en el caso de la pre-mentalización o el interés/curiosidad. Discutimos estos resultados en términos de sus contribuciones a la teoría acerca de las relaciones progenitor-niño, RF materna y la regulación de la emoción del niño.

Parental reflective functioning (RF), the ability to consider the child's behavior as a function of mental states, is theorized to promote emotion regulation in children via its positive impact on parenting sensitivity. Using a sample of mothers and toddlers (N = 151 dyads; 41% Latinx; 54% girls; MAge = 21 months; SDAge = 2.5 months), we measured mothers' self-reported RF (high RF = low certainty/high interest-curiosity/low prementalizing), toddlers' distress during a standardized challenging behavioral task (toy removal), and three methods of children's coping with distress. Then, we tested whether RF moderated the association between children's observed distress and coping during the task (mother-directed adaptive coping, task-directed adaptive coping, maladaptive aggression) as an index of emotion regulation. Although RF was not associated with toddlers' distress, indices of RF moderated the associations between distress and coping. As RF increased, the positive association between toddler distress with both mother-oriented increased, whereas the association between toddler distress and child aggression decreased. Findings were present only for certainty of mental states, whereas no effects were present for prementalizing or interest/curiosity. We discuss these findings in terms of their contributions to theory regarding parent-child relationships, maternal RF, and child emotion regulation.

Behavioural, emotional and rhythm-related disturbances in toddlers: Preliminary findings from a community-based study in Kerala, India.

PURPOSE: The need to enhance mental health in primary care settings for infants and toddlers is increasingly becoming apparent. However, the lack of trained healthcare personnel and culturally appropriate measures makes it a challenge in low- and middle-income countries. A needs-based assessment of the extent of the problems in toddlers will help address the lacunae in providing mental health services. METHODS: A needs-based assessment was carried out of a community sample of 9,287 mothers with toddlers aged between 13 and 25 months in Kerala, India. This assessment was conducted by junior public health nurses using an indigenously developed checklist titled 'Screening checklist for Behavioural, Emotional and Rhythm-related disturbances in Toddlers' (S-BERT). RESULTS: According to the mothers surveyed, 30.4% of toddlers had concerning or distress causing behaviours. Three factors, namely behavioural, rhythm-related and emotional disturbances, were deemed significant when the item response theory was used to examine the factor structure of S-BERT. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that behaviours that cause distress to mothers of toddlers are common, if queried specifically. Given the constraints in health resources as the cultural factors in operation, use of indigenous tools and principles of collaborative stepped care may be the way forward.

Propósito: La necesidad de mejorar la salud mental en lugares de atención primaria para infantes y niños pequeñitos es cada vez más aparente. Sin embargo, la falta de un personal entrenado de cuidado de salud y medidas culturalmente apropiadas la convierte en un reto en países de bajos y medianos recursos económicos. Una evaluación, con base en las necesidades, de la extensión de los problemas en los niños pequeñitos ayudará a llenar el vacío de proveer servicios de salud mental. Métodos: Una evaluación con base en las necesidades se efectuó en un grupo muestra comunitario de 9,287 madres con niños pequeñitos de edad entre los 13 y 25 meses en Kerala, India. Esta evaluación la llevó a cabo por un grupo de nuevas enfermeras de salud pública usando una lista de verificación desarrollada localmente y conocida como "Lista para verificar la examinación de trastornos en el comportamiento, la emoción y relacionados con el ritmo en niños pequeñitos" (S-BERT). Resultados: De acuerdo con las madres de la encuesta, 30.4% de los niños pequeñitos presentaban preocupaciones o angustias que causaban el comportamiento. Tres factores, a saber, del comportamiento, relacionados con el ritmo y trastornos emocionales, fueron considerados significativos cuando se usó la Teoría de Respuesta a los Asuntos para examinar el factor estructura de S-BERT. Conclusión: Este estudio sugiere que los comportamientos que causan la angustia a las madres de niños pequeñitos son comunes, si se consultan específicamente. Dadas las limitaciones en cuanto a los recursos de salud como los factores culturales operativos, el uso de herramientas locales y principios de cuidados escalonadamente colaborativos pudiera ser el camino a seguir.

But: Le besoin d'améliorer la santé mentale dans des contextes de soin primaire pour les bébés et les jeunes enfants devient de plus en plus apparent. Cependant le manque de personnel de soin de santé formé et le manque de mesures culturellement appropriées en font un véritable défi dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire. Une évaluation de l'étendue des problèmes chez les jeunes enfants, basée sur le besoin, aidera à s'attaquer aux lacunes en offrant des services de santé mentale. Méthodes: Une évaluation basée sur les besoins a été faite chez un échantillon communautaire de 9287 mères avec des petits enfants âgés de 13 à 25 mois à Kerala en Inde. Cette évaluation a été faite par de jeunes infirmières et infirmiers de santé publique utilisant une checklist développée sur place intitulée "Checklist de dépistage de troubles comportementaux, émotionnels et du rythme chez les petits enfants" (S-BERT). Résultats: Selon les mères qui ont été sondées, 30,4 des petits enfants avaient des comportements inquiétants ou des comportements de détresse. Trois facteurs, soit les perturbations comportementales, liées au rythme et émotionnelles, ont été estimées être importants lors que la Théorie Item Response a été utilisée afin d'examiner la structure de facteur de la S-BERT. Conclusion: Cette étude suggère que les comportements qui causent de la détresse aux mères de petits enfants sont communs, s'ils se trouvent spécialement dans les questions. Compte tenu des contraintes des ressources de santé en tant que facteurs culturels de l'opération l'utilisation d'outils développés sur place et les principes de soins élaborés de manière collaborative peuvent s'avérer être la meilleure manière d'aller vers l'avant.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers in a community-based setting: Improvements in parenting behavior, emotional availability, child behavior, and attachment.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Toddlers (PCIT-T) is a new attachment-based parenting intervention designed to meet the needs of children aged 12-24 months presenting with challenging behaviors. This study examined outcomes of the first phase of PCIT-T, Child Directed Interaction-Toddler (CDI-T), 4-months post treatment. Participants were 56 toddlers (Child Mage = 19.13 months) referred to receive CDI-T over an 8-week period at an Australian community-based child behavior treatment clinic for treatment of difficult toddler behaviors. Participants completed questionnaires and observational measures at baseline (Time 1), post-treatment (Time 2), and 4-month follow-up (Time 3). At both Time 2 and Time 3, there were statistically significant increases in observed positive parenting skills and emotional availability and decreases in negative parenting behaviors and child noncompliance. There were also significant improvements in parent-reported child externalizing and internalizing behaviors, parental stress, and maternal depression. There was a pattern of a shift away from attachment insecurity and attachment disorganization. Results suggest that the CDI-T phase of PCIT-T is a promising intervention for toddlers presenting with behavioral issues. Future studies should be conducted to assess efficacy in other settings, using larger samples and utilizing randomized controlled designs.

La terapia de interacción progenitor-niño con niños pequeñitos (PCIT-T) es una nueva intervención de crianza con base en la afectividad y diseñada para cubrir las necesidades de niños de edad de 12 a 24 meses que enfrentan retos de comportamiento. Este estudio examinó los resultados de la primera fase de PCIT-T, Interacción Dirigida del Niño - Niño Pequeñito (CDI-T), 4 meses después del tratamiento. Participaron 56 niños pequeñitos (Edad promedio del niño = 19.13 meses) que habían sido referidos para recibir el CDI-T en un período de 8 semanas en una clínica en Australia con base comunitaria de tratamiento de comportamiento del niño, dedicada al tratamiento de comportamientos difíciles de niños pequeñitos. Los participantes completaron cuestionarios y medidas de observación al momento básico (Primer momento), posteriormente al tratamiento (Segundo momento) y en el seguimiento a los 4 meses (Tercer momento). Tanto en el momento segundo como en el tercero, se dieron mejorías estadísticamente significativas en cuanto a las observadas habilidades positivas de crianza y la disponibilidad emocional y disminuciones en cuanto a las conductas de crianza negativas y la falta de obediencia del niño. También se dieron mejorías significativas en los comportamientos de externalización e internalización del niño según el reporte del progenitor, el estrés de los padres y la depresión materna. Se dio un patrón de alejarse de la inseguridad de la afectividad y la desorganización de la afectividad. Los resultados sugieren que la fase CDI-T del PCIT-T es una intervención prometedora para niños pequeñitos que presentan asuntos de comportamiento. Futuros estudios deben llevarse a cabo para evaluar la efectividad en otros escenarios, usando grupos muestras más grandes y utilizando diseños de control al azar.

La thérapie d'interaction parent-enfant avec un jeune enfant (en anglais Parent-child interaction therapy with Toddlers, soit PCIT-T) est une nouvelle intervention de parentage basée sur l'attachement, conçue afin de remplir les besoins d'enfants âgés de 12 à 24 mois qui présentent des comportements difficiles. Cette étude a examiné les résultats de la première phase de PCIT-T, l'Interaction Dirigée vers l'Enfant - Petit Enfant (Child Directed Interaction - Toddler, soit CDI-T), à 4 mois après le traitement. Les participants ont consisté en 56 jeunes enfants (âgeM de l'Enfant = 19,13 mois) envoyés consulter afin de recevoir une CDI-T sur une période de 8 semaines dans une clinique de traitement du comportement de l'enfant communautaire en Australie, spécialisé dans le traitement de comportements difficiles de jeunes enfants. Les participants ont rempli des questionnaires et des mesures d'observation au niveau de référence (Temps 1), après le traitement (Temps 2) et au suivi de 4 mois (Temps 3). A la fois au Temps 2 et 3 on a noté des augmentations statistiquement significatives dans les compétences positives observées de parentage et la disponibilité émotionnelle ainsi que des baisses dans les comportements négatifs de parentage et le refus d'obéir. On a aussi noté des améliorations importantes dans l'externalisation de l'enfant rapportée par le parent et les comportements d'internalisation, le stress parental et la dépression maternelle. On a observé une tendance se détachant de l'insécurité de l'attachement et de la désorganisation de l'attachement. Les résultats suggèrent que la phases CDI-T de la PCIT-T est une intervention prometteuse pour les jeunes enfants présentant des problèmes de comportement. Des études futures devraient être faites afin d'évaluer l'efficacité d'autres contextes, en utilisant des échantillons plus larges et en utilisant des plans d'étude contrôlées randomisées.

TODDLERS' USE OF GESTURE AND SPEECH IN SERVICE OF EMOTION REGULATION DURING DISTRESSING ROUTINES.

Research on the intersections of young children's emerging communication skills and emotion regulation has increased, following recognition of the link between these skills as they emerge in toddlerhood and the long-term impact of these skills on academic success. However, little is known about how toddlers use gesture and emerging language for emotion regulation. The current study describes toddlers' use of both words and gestures in naturally occurring distressing routines in childcare (diaper change, separation from parents). Seventeen toddlers between 11 and 28 months old were observed over the course of 3½ months in a childcare setting where symbolic gestures ("infant signs") were used as part of daily routines. Results show that toddlers communicated more frequently using gestures than speech, and used a greater range of self-regulatory strategies through gesture than through speech. Moreover, older, verbal toddlers continued to use gestures during heightened distress when they could not find their words. Findings suggest that toddlers use symbolic communication to implement complex and diverse emotion regulation strategies during distressing daily routines, and that gestures provide children with opportunities to employ more diverse emotion regulation strategies than does speech alone, which may ultimately enhance children's abilities to regulate their emotions.

SAFE START: AN EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE SETTING-A CRITICAL REVIEW.

Early childhood mental health programs are vital for the current and future mental health and brain development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Founded in 2014, Safe Start is the only early childhood mental health program in Beirut, Lebanon. It aims at being the prototype of such services at the national level. A retrospective analysis of the outcomes of the first year of operations has resulted in important findings about the age of the participants, their diagnoses, previous therapies that the participants have undergone, types of referrals recommended, and the number of participants who were lost to follow-up. This first analysis pointed at the need for more in-depth research to encompass the gaps and benefits of such services. It shows the pivotal importance of designing awareness strategies about the importance of early childhood mental health services and care; to move from a diagnostic seeking behavior to commitment to psychotherapy and follow-up interventions.

SOCIOEMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN TODDLERS WITH LANGUAGE DELAY.

Toddlers with language delay are at risk for persistent developmental and behavioral difficulties; however, the association between socioemotional/behavior problems and language in young children is not well understood. This study explored socioemotional/behavior problems in a unique sample of toddlers with language delays using a measure developed explicitly for this age group. Toddlers identified by 18 months with receptive and expressive language delay (LD; n = 30) or typical development (TD; n = 61) were evaluated at 18 and 24 months of age using the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA) and the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Compared to toddlers who had TD, toddlers with LD had significantly more concerning scores at 18 and 24 months on all ITSEA domains. The rate of "clinical concern" on most domains was not high in either group, except that >60% of LD toddlers were in the clinical concern range on the Competence domain. Socioemotional/behavioral problems were dimensionally related to receptive and expressive language, with greater language delay associated with more concerning ITSEA scores. Socioemotional and behavioral problems are related to receptive and expressive language abilities in 18- and 24-month-olds, indicating the need for screening of both types of concerns in toddlers identified with potential language delays.

CAREGIVER'S DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND YOUNG CHILDREN'S SOCIOEMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT DELAYS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN POOR RURAL AREAS OF CHINA.

Poverty and its associated factors put people at risk for depression. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms (DS) of primary caregivers and socioemotional development (SED) delays of young children in poor rural areas of China, and to explore the association between them. Cross-sectional data of 2,664 children aged 3 to 35 months and their primary caregivers were used for analysis. Characteristics of the child, caregiver, and family were collected through face-to-face caregiver interviews. DS were assessed by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (W.W. Zung, 1965, as cited in World Health Organization, ), and SED was evaluated by the Ages and Stage Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (J. Squires, D. Bricker, & L. Potter, 1997). The χ2 test, stratification analysis, and logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association. Among the caregivers, 40.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] [38.4, 42.1]), reported DS. Caregivers who were male, older and ethnic minorities as well as had a low level of education, a low family income, or more children were more likely to have DS. Of the children, 24.4% (95% CI [22.8, 26.0]) were recognized with SED delays. Older children displayed more delays than did younger children, but no significant differences between males and females were found. SED delays were significantly associated with mother outmigrating, male caregivers, older age, ethnic minorities, and low education or families with a single parent, low-income, and having more children. Caregivers having DS, odds ratio (OR) = 2.40, 95% CI [1.99, 2.88], was a significant predictor of increased odds of SED delays; other factors were single-parent family, OR = 1.99, 95% CI [1.37, 2.89], inadequate care, OR = 1.69, 95% CI [1.30, 2.21], physical punishment, OR = 1.61, 95% CI [1.33, 1.95], ethnic minorities, OR = 1.41, 95% CI [1.17, 1.71], and child age in months, OR = 1.03, 95% CI [1.02, 1.04], according to the logistic regression analysis. DS are prevalent among caregivers with young children in poor rural areas. Interventions to improve the mental health of caregivers and their parenting behaviors are needed to improve children's SED.

ASSESSING PARENTING IN THE CONTEXT OF REUNIFICATION OF INFANTS/TODDLERS AND THEIR FAMILIES: HOW TO FACE THE CHALLENGES?

Since a substantial portion of infants and toddlers reenter care after reunification, the question of whether family reunification is feasible needs to be answered very cautiously. How parenting is assessed is of major importance in answering this question, but the quality of these assessments is often poor. With an eye to improving current practice, we conducted an integrative review, in which we analyzed the challenges related to the assessment of parenting vis-à-vis reunification and linked relevant knowledge from research with significant know-how from practice. The challenges appear to be embedded in the struggle to define (especially good enough) parenting and the complex context of child protection. As an answer to the challenges, the integrative review resulted in a framework of four key components required for sufficient parenting-assessment practice: (a) the use and development of expertise; and (b) providing families aiming for reunification with an intervention that is intensive, (c) flexible, and (d) organized as teamwork. Providing families with such an intervention gives them the opportunity to make substantial changes in their parenting and helps professionals assess the capacity of parents to grow to an acceptable level of caretaking for their child. Further implications for research and practice are discussed.

A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE MANAGING YOUTH TRAUMA EFFECTIVELY PROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN.

This article provides a description of the development, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of feasibility and acceptability of the Managing Youth Trauma Effectively (MYTE) program and highlights perceptions of changes in mothers' trauma-informed parenting practices. The program consists of a training and consultation program for staff of the U.S. State of Arkansas' Specialized Women's Programs (SWS), and an 8-week, group psychoeducational program designed to help mothers with substance-abuse problems learn how traumatic experiences may affect their children and how they may help support their children by creating a safe and nurturing environment. A posttraining evaluation with leadership and staff at SWS centers, feedback provided on consultation calls with MYTE facilitators, and a retrospective pre/post survey were used to examine feasibility, acceptability, and perceptions of changes in mothers' trauma-informed parenting practices. Preliminary results suggest that the MYTE program is feasible to implement and is acceptable to training participants, facilitators, and mothers participating in the program. Mothers reported significant growth in their perceptions of use of trauma-informed parenting practices. Future research is necessary to confirm these results and examine the effectiveness of the program using a randomized clinical trial.

PREDICTORS OF INFANT AND TODDLER BLACK BOYS' EARLY LEARNING: SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES AND MINIMIZING RISKS.

Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) data set (U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, 2001), this study examined child, family, and community factors in the early years (infant and toddler years) to predict the cognitive and language outcomes for preschool-age Black boys in relation to Black girls and White boys. Findings indicate that Black children face many challenges, with Black boys experiencing less sensitive parenting as compared to their peers. We live in a highly complex, racialized environment. While there are universal indicators that predict children's preschool outcomes such as strong social positioning and positive parenting, there are, in addition, some indicators that are more beneficial for Black boys' early development, including a stable, less urban home environment with parents engaging in "tough love."

FAMILY CONFLICT MODERATES EARLY PARENT-CHILD BEHAVIORAL TRANSACTIONS.

The reciprocal transactions that shape early parent-child relationships are influenced by contextual stress, such as family conflict. Although family conflict is a salient stressor to the family system, few studies have considered how parent-child transactions vary according to exposure to family conflict. The present study examined how family conflict alters early parent-child behavioral transactions. We utilized three waves of data from a multisite longitudinal study of low-income families (N = 2, 876), child age 14 months, 24 months, and 36 months, to identify behavioral transactions of positive and negative maternal (supportiveness, negative regard) and child (engagement, negativity) behaviors. Results indicated that family conflict at 14 months diminished the positive association between maternal supportiveness and child engagement, and amplified the inverse association between maternal negativity and child engagement. Family conflict at 14 months also was associated with increased stability of child negativity and subsequent increased maternal negative regard at 36 months, in part via increases in 24-month child negativity. In sum, family conflict occurring early in childhood predicted and moderated behavioral transactions between young children and their mothers.

[Relationship Pattern of Mothers with Functional Constipated Infants]. / Beziehungsmuster bei Müttern von Kleinkindern mit funktioneller Obstipation.

Relationship Pattern of Mothers with Functional Constipated Infants The present article investigates whether or not mothers of infants with functional constipation have a specific relationship pattern. This question is addressed by analyzing the data collected at the day care clinic for infant regulation disorders with appropriate methods like the questionnaire for the assessment of adjustment of mothers with children in infancy (EMKK, Engfer u. Codreanu, 1984) described here. The evaluation of data was performed in two ways: first with regard to the clinical study group of mothers with infants (age range from one to five years) suffering from functional constipation, and then compared to a clinical control group of mothers with infants who are coping with regulation disorders (by definition per Papousek, Schieche, Wurmser, 2010). With this comparison differences between the two groups are made visible and clinical interventions can be deduced accordingly. If the groups do not differ in their pattern described by the EMKK, the possible interventions can be adopted from the well-studied area of regulation disorders. The focus on analyzing the data of mothers with functional constipated infants serves as an important starting point for providing the best possible alignment of clinical intervention.