Stark County Childhood Resiliency Project

Susan Lowery-O'Connell, Director
800 Market Avenue, North, Suite 1150
Canton, Ohio  44702
(330) 455-1225 ext. 312
(330) 455-2026

The Stark County Childhood Resiliency Project is an early childhood consultation, and social and emotional skills promotion program for young children, ages 2 to 6, their families, and childcare providers. Specially trained Resiliency Coaches; or early childhood mental health consultants, provided by Child & Adolescent Service Center and Community Services, Inc., work on-site in early childhood programs throughout Stark County. Consultation activities at the sites include teacher training and direct classroom support, parent consultation and education, such as Incredible Years Parent Groups, and child activities and skill training. The Childhood Resiliency Project is associated with Ohio Department of Mental Health Early Childhood Mental Health Initiative, and hosts monthly Incredible Years Consultation Groups for parent group leaders.

For several years, parents, childcare providers, mental health providers, and Early Childhood Collaborative partners in Stark County have identified a need for mental/behavioral health supportive services for young children and their families. Many infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers are identified as having social/emotional challenges, and there have been insufficient resources to address those needs. Deficits in early social and emotional competencies often create barriers to learning, and prevent young children from being fully prepared to enter school. Research demonstrates that basic social, emotional and behavioral skills are equally important to cognitive skills in determining future success in school and in life. The Stark County Community Mental Health Board, Ohio Department of Mental Health, and United Way of Greater Stark County have joined together to support the Stark County Childhood Resiliency Project, which began services in 2003.

To be most effective, mental health strategies for young children should be provided where children are, which typically is either in their homes, in childcare centers, or in family childcare homes. The Stark County Childhood Resiliency Project provided services to 12 early childhood programs in 2005 & 2006, reaching over 60 classrooms, 135 early childhood staff, and 1000 children. Participating early childhood programs are located in Canton, North Canton, Massillon and Alliance. Incredible Years Parenting Groups are offered throughout the year in community locations. To join or sponsor a group, please use the contact information listed.

"Through the project...through emotional development." The Childhood Resiliency program is universal, which means all children in participating programs are eligible to participate in skill building activities. It is also strength-based, which means the focus is on developing positive social and emotional growth, and fostering resiliency and school readiness skills, not only on diagnosing and addressing problems. All children receive the following research-based programming:

1. The DECA - Devereux Early Childhood Assessment, which focuses on the acquisition of resiliency skills (www.devereuxearlychildhood.org),
2. The Incredible Years - a parent, teacher and child training series, which has proven effective for reducing children aggression and behavioral problems, and enhancing parenting skills and satisfaction, (www.incredibleyears.com), and
3. I Can Problem Solve - a parent, teacher and child training series, which fosters interpersonal problem solving.
   
   The Childhood Resiliency Project offers consultation and training to early childhood and mental health organizations, and sponsors an Incredible Years Consultation Group monthly, led by a Certified Mentor in the Incredible Years Program. Primary funding for the Project has been provided through the Stark County Community Mental Health Board, the Ohio Department of Mental Health, and United Way of Greater Stark County.