Early childhood mental health, disabilities, and behavior

If it's a subject involving the education, care, and development of young children, the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) most likely offers related training, has printed a brochure or booklet about it, organized or is organizing an event focusing on it, or is involved in researching the topic.

The collegewide center's work focuses on children from birth through age eight, including children with special needs. The goal is to provide the earliest possible interventions that will help infants and toddlers develop to their fullest potential.

"The foundation of CEED is outreach," says Scott McConnell, educational psychology professor and director of community engagement. "The training, the teaching, the publications, the conferences–the purpose of all these things is to disseminate the most current and well-regarded research in the field so that practitioners and parents can act with the best information available."

Christopher Watson, CEED director of professional development and education, says CEED "pays attention to the problems people have defined and synthesizes and organizes research around those needs."

Current CEED research includes:

Minnesota Infant Mental Health Project—As professionals in child development provide more clear and useful definitions and guidelines for determining the mental health of very young children, questions are now arising about how to best provide diagnoses, treatment, and preventative services for families facing issues around infant and toddler mental health. CEED researchers and staff are leading the way in exploring these questions in Minnesota, pursuing research, conducting surveys, and hosting meetings among professionals from state agencies, local governments, child psychology, and other service providers. CEED now offers training on this topic and continues to work with local communities to define the best ways to provide services and support for families in need.

Addressing the Needs of Young Children Who Engage in Challenging Behavior—For this project, CEED researchers and faculty are working with school districts throughout Minnesota and seven other states to develop effective ways of dealing with preschool children with behavioral problems. The goal is to train education and child care professionals to recognize problems and intervene as early as possible to help children, families, and child care providers deal positively with challenging behaviors.

Movement Individual Growth and Development Indicators (IGDIs)—Together, the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) and the School of Kinesiology developed a tool to assess infant/toddler and preschooler movement. Part of this system is assessments that allow families and teachers to monitor young children’s development and identify, as soon as possible, the need for more intensive intervention.

Center for Early Education and Development
Phone: 612-624-5780
Fax: 612-625-2093
E-mail: ceed@umn.edu

February 2001
updated December 2004 and September 2005