Do More 24 - Make a Difference in a life today!
Most mental illness develops in childhood and adolescence.
On Wednesday, May 19th, Main Street will join other nonprofits in the region as we work to Do More in 24 hours! This one-day fundraising event will raise thousands of dollars for worthy nonprofits around the Greater Washington region.
This year, Main Street is focused on supporting the Mental Health of our children, families, and staff as we continue to battle the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has been difficult for Daniel, a seven-year-old in our School Age Program. His Mom and Dad both lost their jobs, adding to the stress of a family already struggling. Daniel began to show the strain, becoming argumentative and volatile with both peers and teachers. Added to that, the challenges of virtual learning for a boy who already found school difficult, compounded his frustrations. Fortunately, his teachers recognized he needed help and requested the support of our on-site Mental Health Specialist who immediately began by meeting with Daniel’s parents and then began meeting with him on a weekly basis to work through his problems. Daniel is learning coping skills and his schoolwork has improved. Best of all, the well-liked, kind boy we’ve watched grow since he was two, is back to enjoying his many friends at Main Street.
As of 2015, 1 in 5 preschool children met the criteria for psychiatric disorders [Advances and Directions in Preschool Mental Health Research (2015)]. Low-income families face more negative social determinates of health that make our children more susceptible to overcoming mental health challenges. COVID-19 has only increased these issues.
As most mental health problems develop in childhood and adolescence, numerous studies have cited that the best way to address these is through early intervention. However, even in high-quality childcare settings that provide the best opportunity for at-risk children to achieve positive school readiness outcomes, childcare professionals “often lack the knowledge and skills that would help them identify the early signs of mental health problems as well as fully understand the consequences of family difficulties and parent mental health problems for young children’s development” [Establishing a Level Foundation for Life: Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood. Harvard University (2012)].
Main Street has been at the forefront of early childhood mental health for over 10 years. By investing in a robust mental health curriculum, taking a whole-family centered approach, and having an on-site mental health specialist, Main Street has invested in creating healthy, stable children and families. The on-site specialist is key to providing our teachers with the tools and resources necessary to make a difference while providing direct support and assistance when needed.
At Main Street we focus on the whole child: mind, body, and heart – and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to prepare these young learners for the brightest future!