Event: Conference call to address the mental health needs of children in early education
Organized by: Pre-K Now
Where/When: Washington, D.C., March 15, 2005

By Michele Clute

This discussion included three key speakers: Peggy Nikkel, Executive Director of UPLIFT Wyoming, who addressed the general public as she relayed her personal experiences; Mary Beth Bruder, P.H.D of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine; who addressed educators, and Jane Knitzer, Ed.D., of the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) at Columbia University, who addressed policy makers and legislative change. The agenda for this conference was to discuss the importance of making sure children are socially and emotionally prepared for school. The speakers addressed the kinds of programs that can detect, treat, and support families and their children who experience emotional and psychological problems as early on as possible.

UPLIFT director Peggy Nikkel is also the mother of an adopted son with emotional disabilities. She described how, soon after adopting her son, she realized that he was not developing properly socially and emotionally, but that it was difficult to find needed support services. She noted in her discussion that parents often know as early as the first year of life that something is amiss in their child's emotional or psychological development, but that doctors are often reluctant to make a diagnosis for such a young child. Nikkel noted that this can result in delays in children receiving proper treatment.

Currently, Nikkel notes, doctors are leery of diagnosing very young children with emotional or psychological disorders, in part because of the stigma that can go with a diagnosis. Parents may not push for a diagnosis for the same reason, noted Nikkel, who observed that parents are still often blamed for their children's psychological or emotional problems. Nikkel said doctors should change their thinking, diagnose children early on, and provide adequate treatment and support for the child and their families.

Expanding upon this conversation, Mary Beth Bruder talked about the necessity for acknowledging, diagnosing, and treating children for social and emotional problems before they start kindergarten. Bruder's take-home message is that all children need a social and emotional foundation for learning; before a child can learn their letters and numbers they need to have the underlying foundation that is created by having quality interactions with adults and other children. Bruder said universal access to Pre-K would make it possible to begin addressing children's emotional and psychological needs early. She said that the design of pre-K programs should include support for children's social and emotional development and training for teachers in recognizing common problems and nurturing children's social and emotional development.

Lastly, Jane Knitzer spoke about getting policy makers involved in changing the way society handles children with emotional and psychological difficulties. Knitzer reiterated Bruder's point that education cannot happen unless children are developing properly emotionally and psychologically and if these problems are left untreated these children will continue to fall farther and farther behind in school. Knitzer said policy makers should be encouraged to examine how money is being spent now and find more creative ways to use private and public funding to create the necessary partnerships to ensure proper teacher training is ongoing; that services are accessible, utilized, positive, and minimally stressful for the child. Knitzer said that it is time to pick up the pace, link the data to reality and start making change so children with emotional and psychological difficulties will have a better chance to succeed in school.

For more information visit:

• UPLIFT Wyoming
• UC- Dr. Bruder
• NCCP Dr. Knitzer