The Families First Infant Mental Health Head Start program works with both parents and teachers to begin therapeutic and behavioral health services early with children and families in Head Start/ Early Head Start Centers throughout Palm beach County. The goal of the IMH program is to heal children from trauma/toxic stress and mitigate the effects these experiences have on development and lifelong school performance by providing therapeutic services to children before they enter Kindergarten. We aim to keep children out of the child welfare system, bridge the gap between school and home, and help create developmentally appropriate, and safe classroom settings for these young children.

Our Infant Mental Health Program is run by experts in the field who provide specialized training to the program therapists in evidence-based practice modalities. The development of young children is influenced by the safety and security of their environment and is negatively affected by trauma and toxic stress. Without proper intervention for trauma and toxic stress, children are seen to have extreme behaviors, developmental delays, and do not demonstrate school readiness when entering Kindergarten. This program aims to address the social emotional needs of the Head Start children before they start elementary school.