Childhood Intervention

A communication that I had about childhood intervention was very enlightening for me. In the discussion a colleague of mine talked about the need for early childhood intervention and how it would help increased parental support, and overall healthful lifestyles for children. These are considered necessary components in the life of a child. When children are thriving, involved intellectually and exist in highly effective homes, they can develop and eventually become beneficial to their community.



The Center for the Developing Child states that the investment into the early life of a child is essential (Center for Developing Child, 2015). Children who receive sufficient early intervention, and have an involved parental assistance will succeed at a far superior rate than children who do not. Data shows that three out of every forty children are victims of maltreatment (Finkelhor et al, 2005). Research furthermore shows that forty-nine out of every five hundred children are sufferers of parental substance abuse (SAMHSA, 2002). Surveys also show that thirteen out of every 100 children live with a mother who suffers from postpartum depression (O-Hara & Swain, 1996).



This data provides a clear need for intervention in the families of children in order that children can develop successfully. They could then create strong children themselves, which in turn, could change the underlying forces of the entire country. This connection not only aids the child, there are also profitable consequences that are valuable to our nation. This early intervention supports students and their families in the long term.



Programs that succeed within the family produce a return to our culture that far surpasses the initial cost of the programs (Center for Developing Child, 2015). This information indicates that the need for early intervention is desirable over doing nothing. The need for early health care, early education opportunities, family intervention, and early childhood responsiveness makes sense.


                                        References
Center for the Developing Child. (2015) Early childhood program effectiveness. In Brief series. Retrieved http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/briefs/inbrief_series/ inbrief_the_science_of_ecd/



Finkelhor, D., Turner, H., Ormrod, R., & Hamby, S. 2005. “The victimization of children and youth: A comprehensive, national survey. Child Maltreatment. pp 5-21



O-Hara. M.W. & Swain, A. risk and rate of postpartum depression-a meta-analysis. International Review of Psychiatry, 1996, Vol. 8, No. 1 : Pages 37-54



SAMHSA. (2002). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Report to congress on the prevention and treatment of co-occurring substance abuse disorders and mental disorders. Retrieved from http://www.sanhsa.gov/news/cl_congress2002.html.