Ragan says kids need mental health services

From Senator Amanda Ragan –

Promoting the long-term health and well-being of Iowa’s children is essential to our state’s future. Kids lead more productive, happy lives if they receive mental health and developmental services. When kids experience trauma, that stress disrupts the developing brain, producing negative lifelong consequences for learning, behavior, and health.

Legislators heard this week about the problem of “Adverse Childhood Experiences” and progress over the last year to expand early childhood wellness initiatives to more counties in Iowa. The state is now collecting data on Adverse Childhood Experiences, including child abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.

No kid should have to grow up with those kinds of odds working against them. Building resilience is the key to moderating extreme stress and promoting lifelong health. Early detection and prevention are of the utmost importance, as well as family-focused approaches to supporting children and their parents.

Effective evidence-based prevention and treatment programs include Iowa’s 1st Five Healthy Mental Development Initiative, which brings together physicians and social service providers to promote healthy mental development among young kids. If a child is at risk, appropriate referrals can be made to help the family in optimizing the child’s mental development. With continued support of the 1st Five Initiative, we can ensure that Iowa’s children begin life with the greatest opportunity to achieve school readiness, academic success and overall wellbeing throughout life.