Circle Of Security...

Old Mill is currently seeing a tremendous increase in the number of infant, toddlers and preschoolers referred due to aggressive or depressed behavior as a result of parental problems: divorce, mental health problems (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, agoraphobia), and methamphetamine use.

As more becomes known about the destructive results of attachment disorders, those in the field of mental health demonstrate increased interest in evidence-based studies regarding attachment in children and adults (parents and primary caregivers). Research has confirmed that those with unhealthy attachments develop unhealthy relationships with spouses and children. Such relationships often exhibit domestic violence, child neglect, and/or child physical and sexual abuse. Proper diagnosis and treatment of this population is a priority.

Circle of Security is an early intervention program to help parents raise their children with love, warmth, and emotional intelligence. This important new program is an accessible and engaging approach to helping parents connect with their infants and toddlers in ways to break the old destructive patterns of parenting so often learned through difficult childhood experiences in the past. The project addresses the critical attachment problems facing some of society's most vulnerable families. Appropriate early interaction between parents and their infants/toddlers will facilitate healthy brain development, positive social and emotional functioning, and impact the child's future competence.

The curriculum is delivered in an innovative method integrating over fifty years of attachment research into a video-based intervention to strengthen parents' ability to observe and improve their own care giving capacity. The project will be delivered to vulnerable families through two existing Old Mill programs, Healthy Start and Strong Families. Healthy Start specifically serves high risk families with firstborn children, where creating new attachment models is critical for the future of these children.

Strong Families is a family support network for hi-risk children, ages 0-8. Services are delivered primarily in homes and other family-friendly settings, and are anticipated to continue for six months or as needed. Families for both programs are referred to Old Mill by physicians, the child welfare, childcare organizations, and Benton County Health Department.