Families Hand in Hand Home

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You Are Not Alone!

Every parent feels the strain.

• What should my child be doing at this age?
• How can I help my child grow the right way?
• What are the best ways to teach my child to control emotions and behave?

When a child has a social, emotional or behavioral issue, that strain increases – and the family can feel alone.

This Web site is designed to help families work hand in hand with professionals and with each other to find the ways to help their children.

If you have suggestions for the site, please contact the Webmaster.

What is Hand in Hand?

Hand in Hand is a program designed to help families find the support they need for their young children with social, emotional and behavioral issues. These are the children who may be expelled from day care. Or maybe the church has said its sitters are unable to "handle" the child. The goal is to help them gain control of their behaviors and improve their social skills so they are ready for Kindergarten.

Hand in Hand believes mental health care for children should be:

Family Oriented - The family should be actively involved in deciding the child's treatment.

Child Focused - Mental health care providers should be focused on each individual child. Older children should participate in decisions about their care.

Culturally Competent - Any treatment should be mindful of a family's culture and values. Although language is a part of cultural competence, the concept is about more than translations. Every family has its unique culture that must be considered in any treatment plan.

Strengths Based - Symptoms of mental health issues are behavioral, so it can be difficult for families to focus on their strengths. Providers should help them see where they are strong and empower them to be active participants in the path their child takes.