In 2009, an NCEF study on mental illness returned disturbing results: Nearly 20 percent of Collier’s children may be suffering from undiagnosed and untreated behavioral health issues.
In response to this dire news, the Collier H.U.G.S. (“Health Under Guided Systems”) early intervention program was created by NAMI of Collier County in partnership with Able Academy, David Lawrence Center, Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Collier County Public Schools, Youth Haven and Collier Health Services and proudly sponsored by The Naples Children & Education Foundation (“NCEF”).
The Collier H.U.G.S. program seeks to fill the mental health void in numerous ways. By targeting vulnerable children and their families, the program provides education and early identification of mental health problems in health and childcare settings. Age appropriate questionnaires are used to screen children and determine who might be at risk and in need of a clinical assessment.
There is increasing recognition that the first few years of a child’s life are a particularly sensitive period in the process of development, laying a foundation in childhood and beyond for cognitive functioning; behavioral, social, and self-regulatory capacities; and physical health. Yet many children face various stressors during these years that can impair their healthy
development. Early childhood intervention programs such as the Collier H.U.G.S. program are designed to mitigate the factors that place children at risk of poor outcomes. Such programs provide supports for the parents, the children, or the family as a whole.
I am particularly proud of the role I have been fortunate to play for H.U.G.S. and the Collier community, developing the global assessment protocol and providing live clinical assessments for the children and their families in our community. Since October 2010, we have screened more than 600 children younger than five for emotional and behavioral problems, providing live clinical assessments for 135 who otherwise would not have been assessed for necessary treatment. We plan to screen another 500 children by June 2011.
The Collier H.U.G.S. program culminates with specialized guidance and peer support to help families find needed services. In part, what is making Collier H.U.G.S. an early success is its accessibility and peer support.
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