SCOPE
The Infant and Early Years Mental Health Subcommittee will develop an annual work plan that will respond to the needs of our Durham community and families with children between the ages of birth-six.

OBJECTIVE
To provide early years professionals with resources to support the implementation of infant mental health wellbeing practices. To help build professional capacity with the delivery of Infant Mental Health Services for children and families.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Members will actively promote continued partnerships and collaborations. Infant and Early Years Mental Health will function as a sub-committee of Durham’s Best Start Network.

Introduction of the Infant and Early Years Mental Health Committee of Durham.

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Infant and early childhood mental health, sometimes referred to as social and emotional development, is the developing capacity of the child from birth to five years of age to form close and secure adult and peer relationships, experience, manage and express a full range of emotions, and explore the environment and learn – all in the context of family, community, and culture (Cohen, Oser &, Quigley, 2012, pg. 1).

Early life experiences influence the developing brain, social and emotional development, mental health, and overall well being across the lifespan; in the infant and early years, mental health is developing the capacity to form close and secure relationships; experience, manage, and express a full range of emotions; and explore the environment and learn within the context of family, community, and culture. (Cohen, Oser & Quigley, 2012; Government of Canada, 2023).

The Supporting Infant Mental Health in the Region of Durham (2015) report indicated that the Region of Durham would benefit from a committee that was dedicated to intentionally curating, creating, and disseminating resources and initiatives for the early childhood sector and families in such a way that promotes the social and emotional well-being of young children. Following the creation of this report, the Infant Mental Health Community Table was established.