Infant and early years
Supporting early mental health, connected care, and better pathways for infants, young children, and families.
Infant and early years
Why the early years matter
The early years of a child's life play an important role in shaping their lifelong mental health, well-being, relationships, and learning.
Identifying concerns early and connecting children and families to the right supports can help improve long-term outcomes and create stronger foundations for their future.
Timely support can make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families and help prevent challenges from becoming more complex over time.
Did you know?
We have a long history of supporting work in infant and early mental health.
For years, we have contributed to projects focused on early years pathways, plus the development and implementation of the HEADS-ED screening tools.
Working together to identify concerns earlier
Since publishing Supporting Ontario's youngest minds in 2014, and Beyond building blocks in 2019, we have worked with communities across Ontario to help primary care providers, community mental health agencies, and other organizations enhance communication and collaboration.
By sharing information and using common tools, providers can identify concerns earlier and help children and families access the right support sooner.
Supporting earlier identification with HEADS-ED
HEADS-ED and HEADS-ED under 6 are screening and triage tools that physicians, nurses, intake workers, and other service providers can use during a patient visit to identify mental health and addictions needs from early infancy to transitional aged youth.
The tools support earlier identification, help guide decision making, and inform next steps in care.
Training and learning opportunities
Interested in using HEADS-ED?
We offer training, learning events, and implementation supports!
