“Children’s early mental health challenges may impact their preschool success. Children in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs are expelled at more than three times the rate of students in grades K–12.6 Expulsion of preschoolers, infants, and toddlers in less regulated private childcare can be as high as 13 times the rate of older children and youth.7 Many childcare programs ask families to withdraw their very young children because of behaviors such as hitting and biting. Disruptive behaviors like these are the most common reason preschool children receive mental health services.
Providing effective age-appropriate services and supports to young children and their families, however, has immediate as well as lifelong benefits. Young children who receive effective age-appropriate services and supports are more likely to complete high school, have fewer contacts with law enforcement, and improve their ability to live independently.9 This short report describes social and emotional outcomes for young children from birth through 8 years of age and their families, a subset of all children and youth who receive services in systems of care.”
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