Promoting Mental Health in Early Childhood Programs: Serving Low-Income Ethnic Minority Families

Abstract

Nearly 25 % of young children in the United States are living in poverty, and a disproportionate number of those children are African American or Latino. Living in poverty is stressful and it increases the likelihood that children will have more developmental, academic, and mental health problems than their more economically advantaged peers. One of the most important findings from the last two decades of research is that despite the pervasive effects poverty can have on children, positive and skilled parenting can buffer these effects. This is particularly true in the earliest years, when parents are the primary regulators of their children's environments and young brains are developing. There are a number of evidence-based parenting skills training programs available. However, few were originally designed for those populations most in need: low income, ethnic minority families with limited access to culturally competent mental health services. This is important since interventions can only be effective if the parents these programs are designed to help also see them as relevant, useful, and feasible. This chapter will describe one evidence-based parenting program, called the Chicago Parent Program (CPP), developed in collaboration with low income, African American and Latino parents and its impact on parents and children living in urban poverty. We will also describe some important lessons learned for engaging families in parenting skills programs, a problem that can limit a program's reach and sustainability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)