Inclusive Early Childhood Development (IECD): A Twin-Tracking Approach to Advancing Behavioral Health and Social Justice

As our American Orthopsychiatric Association (AOA) transforms into a Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice (GABHSJ), early childhood development (ECD), and, particularly, inclusive early childhood development (IECD) persists as a prime pathway toward enhancing behavioral health and social justice. As we systematically and intentionally include consideration of the rights and needs of young children with disabilities and their families in our research, practice, and policy, a twin-track (TT) approach that simultaneously considers universal factors alongside disability-specific factors can enhance our conceptualization of problems and solutions. In the context of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its commitment to "leave no one behind," behavioral health and social justice enhancements derive from "mainstreaming" disability matters into diverse universal policies and programs. Elaborated in the triple-twin-track approach is a call for balancing child-centeredness, family focus, and community concerns as well as integrating the special and deepening knowledge of infants and young children with extant social policy and practice. Public Policy Relevance Statement Inclusive early childhood development policies and programs foster behavioral health and social justice in compelling and far-reaching ways. As current global policies and sustainable development initiatives strive to address the needs and rights of young children with disabilities and their families, conceptual and practical tools discussed here enhance advocacy and impact.