Combining Mental Health Treatment with Education for Preschool Children with Severe Emotional and Behavioral Problems

With increasing poverty among families with young children, increasing violence in cities, and increasing stress in families, the needs of preschool children with emotional and behavioral problems are growing more complex. Although policy mandates services for these children, their needs are not adequately met. Well-integrated, collaborative, interdisciplinary, child- and family-centered programs are required. This article reviews the characteristics of preschool children with emotional and behavioral problems, discusses existing models of service delivery, and presents a collaborative model for services that integrates mental health treatment and education. Combined mental health and education service models can lead to improved outcomes for at-risk preschool children.