Resource Guide - Youth and Early Intervention

A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that early intervention for young children with mental health challenges supports healthy development and improves family life. The data indicates that parents and caregivers experience improved quality of life and higher productivity after their young children receive mental health supports and services.

According to the new report problems decreased among nearly one-third (31 percent) of young children with mental health challenges within the first 6 months after entering services... The report, "Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Young Children and Their Families", describes the academic, social, and emotional performance outcomes of children ages 8 and younger receiving services in systems of care. These systems of care programs provide family-driven and culturally and linguistically competent services and supports to children and youth with mental health challenges and their families.

The national evaluation also found that nearly one-third of caregivers of young children with mental health challenges reported less strain 6 months after their children entered services in a system of care. Specifically, these caregivers reported less strain in areas such as the caregiver feeling sad/unhappy or isolated, as well as disruptions of family routines and missed work/neglected duties as a result of their child's emotional or behavioral problems. Evaluation results indicate that this individualized, tailored approach for establishing early interventions for young children with mental health challenges benefits all--children, families and caregivers, and the community.

Developmental Disorders

Autism is a developmental disorder marked by significant impairments in social relatedness, communication, and the quality, variety, and frequency of various activities and behaviors. The onset is generally before age 3, and impairments persist throughout the lifespan. Autism may occur across a range of functioning, and often, but not always, is associated with intellectual disability.

The symptoms of autism that must be present are: abnormal social relatedness, abnormal communicative development, abnormal capacity for symbolic play, restricted and odd behavioral repertoire, and the onset before the age of 3. The symptoms that may be present, but are not always presents are: abnormal movement patterns, cognitive impairment, abnormal sensory responses, stereotypic behaviors, neurologic abnormalities, and extreme behavioral problems.

Asperger's syndrome: A developmental disorder that has significant impairments in social relatedness and the quality, variety, and frequency of various activities and behaviors. The onset is generally before age 3, and impairments persist throughout the lifespan. There is no clinically significant delay in language which distinguishes this disorder from "classic" autism.

In children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), there is an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngster's day to day functioning. Symptoms of ODD may include:

• Frequent temper tantrums
• Excessive arguing with adults
• Often questioning rules
• Active defiance and refusal to comply with adult requests and rules
• Deliberate attempts to annoy or upset people
• Blaming others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
• Often being touchy or easily annoyed by others
• Frequent anger and resentment
• Mean and hateful talking
• Spiteful and revenge seeking

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - a child with ADHD often shows some of the following:

• Trouble paying attention
• Inattention to details and makes careless mistakes
• Easily Distracted
• Loses school supplies, forgets to turn in homework
• Trouble finishing class work and homework
• Trouble listening
• Trouble following multiple adult commands
• Blurts out answers
• Impatience
• Fidgets or squirms
• Leaves seat and runs about or climbs excessively
• Seems "on the go"
• Talks too much and has difficulty playing quietly
• Interrupts or intrudes on others

There Are Three Types of Attention Deficit

• Attention Deficit Disorder - characterized by difficulty with attention and organization. This disorder is sometimes called ADHD inattentive subtype.
• ADHD - hyperactive subtype is characterized by hyperactive behavior and impulsive symptoms.
• The most commonly identified group consists of those people who have difficulties with attention and hyperactivity, or a combination of both.

"Reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, © All Rights Reserved, 2010"