Prevention and early intervention have long been policy and practice goals of child and adolescent psychiatrists and other mental health advocates based on awareness that prompt identification and early remediation efforts with at-risk children has large impact on clinical outcomes extending through the life cycle. In the past decade, public funding has begun to support mental health consultation to other agency programs serving preschool children and their at-risk families. This program provides child and adolescent psychiatrists with knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to participate effectively in settings that serve children ages 0-5 years, their families, and their agency care providers and managers.

This day-long program explores the science and state of clinical practice in the early childhood arena to provide attendees with pragmatic tools for application in clinical settings in which child and adolescent psychiatrists may be consultants and providers of care. Charles Zeanah, M.D., focuses on protective and pathogenic factors during development as a prelude to elucidating potential child psychiatric contributions for very young children and their families. Then, a review of the current state of mental health programming for this population across the country along with a review of the evolving evidence-base for these early childhood efforts is presented. A special lunch presentation by Janice Cooper, Ph.D. honors the career of Jane Knitzer, Ph.D., author of Unclaimed Children, with a focus on current research and advocacy efforts of the National Center for Children in Poverty. The afternoon session addresses the clinical pragmatics and tools relevant to mental health practice in the arena of early childhood services as well as features of community-based practices that are necessary for successful engagement of young families. Child psychiatric engagement with early childhood serving systems such as child welfare, HEAD START, and other public systems can advance clinically sound efforts in early intervention and prevention.

The cost of the program is $75 before September 15, 2010), $100 after and onsite (if available). Medical students and residents can attend for FREE, but need to register. Registration includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and CME credit. For further information, please call Adriano Boccanelli at 202.966.7300, ext. 133. This program requires a separate registration; visit: http://www.aacap.org/cs/2010_Special_Program to register.