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Resource Guide for Developing Integrated Strategies to Support the Social and Emotional Wellness of Children
The COVID-19 pandemic has swiftly and substantially affected the social and emotional health of children, especially those experiencing multiple hardships. As the pandemic has spread across the United States, many children are experiencing widespread disruptions in daily life. Young children are reacting to stress as their parent and caregiver routines change. Children may have strong feelings of fear, worry, sadness, and anger about the pandemic and related issues that impact behavior at home and in child care.
To address these issues, the Office of Child Care (OCC) has a new initiative to further integrate social and emotional support strategies in child care's mixed delivery system. A Resource Guide for Developing Integrated Strategies to Support the Social and Emotional Wellness of Children highlights promising strategies and provides information about how some CCDF grantees have already leveraged partnerships and funding to support implementation success.
Webinars
This webinar was presented as part of the launch of the Office of Child Care initiative to further integrate social and emotional support strategies in child care's mixed delivery system. The session was held on December 15, 2020 and included presentations from the Child Care State Capacity Building Center, the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment, the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, the Center of Excellence for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, and the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations.
This webinar was presented as part of the Office of Child Care social and emotional wellness initiative. The session was held on February 9, 2021 and included a presentation from the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations about how states and territories are integrating the Pyramid Model as a social-emotional support strategy into their mixed-delivery system of early care and education. Two states in different stages of implementation shared how and why they chose to pursue the Pyramid Model as a strategy within their state.
This document from Vermont’s Agency of Education outlines the Guiding Principles for Vermont’s interactions with children and families. The principles include statements for the child and family, and how to best serve their health, mental health, safety, happiness, and success.
This document from Vermont’s Agency of Education discusses the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) that was implemented by the state. This handout covers MTSS as it relates to inclusion goals, alignment with the K-12 system, and professional development.
This webinar was presented as part of the Office of Child Care social and emotional wellness initiative. The session was held on February 12, 2021 and included a presentation from the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) about how states and territories are integrating IECMHC as a social-emotional support strategy into their mixed-delivery system of early care and education. Two states in different stages of implementation shared how and why they chose to pursue IECMHC as a strategy within their state.
This document from the Center of Excellence for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation contains information for parents about children’s mental health needs, services provided by mental health consultants, and the role of family members in a child’s social and emotional development.
Resource Guide
This Resource Guide highlights promising strategies and provides information about how some Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) grantees have already leveraged partnerships and funding to support implementation success.
Topics include the following:
- Benefits of Integrating Strategies to Support the Social and Emotional Wellness of Children, Families, and Providers;
- Implementation Considerations;
- Social and Emotional Wellness Initiatives and Delivery Strategies;
- The Pyramid Model for Promoting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children;
- Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC);
- Relationship-Based Care for Infants and Toddlers: A Training for Trainers Professional Development Strategy;
- Social and Emotional Wellness Strategies for School-Age Children;
- Integrating Social—Emotional Supports as Part of the Child Care and Development Fund Quality Activities;
- Examples of Social and Emotional Development in State QRIS Standards;
- Landscape of States’ Pyramid Model Implementation;
- Landscape of IECMHC Consultation Implementation;
- Social and Emotional Wellness Resources; and
- Federal Technical Assistance.
Selected Excerpts from the Resource Guide for Developing Integrated Strategies to Support the Social and Emotional Wellness of Children

This Quick State Guide summarizes strategies that can be used to integrate social and emotional wellness supports at the regional, state, territory, tribal, and local levels. This summarizes the full Resource Guide.

This article provides information on the implementation of social and emotional supports for children, families, and early childhood professionals. The social and emotional well-being of young children is an important goal for many federal, state, territory, tribal and local programs. The early childhood system of care thrives when there is an integration of social and emotional wellness strategies to support all three—children, families, and providers.

This article provides information on implementation of the Pyramid Model for Promoting Social and Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children and implementation strategies. Successful implementation of the Pyramid Model requires the engagement of statewide teams including state leadership, professional development coaches, and programs. This article also includes state examples of implementation and a scan of states at various points of implementation.

This article provides information on implementation of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) partnerships and implementation strategies. Implementation of IECMHC partnerships has a significantly positive impact on both professionals and children. The article also includes state examples and a landscape of IECMHC implementation in different states.

This article highlights the Relationship-Based Care for Infants and Toddlers: A Training for Trainers series. This series provides rationale and guidance for implementing relationship-based care in family child care homes and early care and education centers that serve infants, toddlers, and their families.

This article provides information on meeting the social and emotional wellness needs of school-age children through different frameworks and strategies. Healthy relationships are essential for development and allow school-age children to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. This article includes the Pyramid Model, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning Framework, and Positive Youth Development Principles implementation strategies.

This article has information on improving the quality of child care services and ensuring that parents have access to high-quality child care options to fulfill a core element of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).
The CCDF law says that states, territories, and tribes must develop strategies for increasing the supply and quality of services for children in underserved areas, infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children in nontraditional-hour care. This article also contains information on set-asides, or percentages of funding that must be set aside for use on specific topics such as quality improvement and infant and toddler care.