Full, child-centered care makes the difference at The Center for Early Childhood.
Christy Moulin, IMH-E®, Director of The Home’s Center for Early Childhood, met Maria*, Emilio’s* mom, outside of his preschool. Emilio was having a difficult time: his frustrations had flared, he was having trouble focusing, and aggression and “unsafe” behaviors had become a concern with peer interactions.
The school was threatening to expel Emilio, so Christy had come to observe him in the classroom setting and meet with the principal and school counselor. She brought a bag of sensory tools Emilio could use moving forward to help relieve his anxiety and stress, release energy and help him focus. At our Center, and for Christy, exclusion isn’t the answer. Finding another approach is.
CIRCLE OF SUPPORT
Maria sought out our Early Childhood team for help because we knew Emilio, and she trusted us. When he was three, Emilio came to The Home for play therapy, and we found him to be a creative, playful child who responds well to nurturing and consistent boundaries.
Emilio was between providers (his clinician went on leave) when his struggles at school came to a head. “I called Christy nonstop,” recalls Maria. She responded immediately, connecting the family with resources and putting next steps in place. “We were able to get Emilio situated within months,” says Maria. “That was a life-changer.”
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
Emilio received weekly clinical support to help him manage his anger and cope with emotional peaks, as well as neuropsychological testing and an Individualized Education Program (IEP)— much of which was new to Maria. “I didn’t understand the tantrums. I didn’t know what an IEP meant. I didn’t know how to get evaluations,” she explains. With The Home’s services working in unison, Maria was able to build that knowledge, and Emilio now has the support he needs to thrive.
This awareness has made a world of difference, for Maria, Emilio and everyone in his orbit. “Now, we have concrete insight, so we can support him without being judgmental or dismissing his emotions.” Armed with this information, Maria enrolled Emilio in a new school with a
Team-Based Learning program, exiting the setting that wasn’t meeting his needs. The administrators there often praise her advocacy for Emilio. “It feels so good,” says Maria, with pride and relief. “I know about these things because of The Home. Without The Home, I’d be walking blindfolded.”
FEELING SUCCESS
Emilio, now 7, has been working with his clinician, Fantasia Fernandes, for two years, and the two communicate well and share a bond. Fantasia has helped him through the transition, checking in with school counselors and Maria before her sessions with Emilio. Together, they play sports and fun, active games that work towards goals like impulse control and limit setting. Fantasia says, “When we’re playing together, it’s a special time for me, because I’ve seen his growth.” In many ways, the family’s early crisis point became a turning point. Maria reflects, “If I didn’t have those supports and services in place at that time, right now, it would be a different story. Emilio is doing so much better, and I truly believe it is because he has had so many people who have cared for him immensely.”
RESOURCES ACCESSED AT THE HOME
- Consultation/Guidance
- Play and SMART Therapy
- Temporary clinical support
- Family sessions
- Neuropsychological evaluation
- Therapeutic Mentor
*Names and some identifying information have been changed for privacy.
