Commitment to Supporting the Mental Health of Our Youngest Children. Report ofthe Infant Mental Health Forum. Held in Alexandria, Virginia on October 23-24, 2000

摘要

Today we have new theoretical, practical and empirical knowledge from the young(but growing) field of infant mental health about the importance of identifying the emotional needs of our youngest children and their families. We now know that emotional development sets the stage for exploration and later readiness to learn and indeed, is the foundation for all later development. The time has come for the development of a comprehensive initiative to address the mental health of infants and their families. As a step in this process, on October 23 and 24, 2000, the Administration on Children Youth and Families convened the Infant Mental Health Forum in Washington, DC. This report captures the dynamic nature of the meeting and provides a document for reference and direction as we move toward the goal of providing infants and young children with the healthy and emotionally supportive environments they need to thrive.