Southeast Families -Blanket of Wellness Project

The Blanket of Wellness Project
A collaborative effort between Partnerships for Families and Children agencies in Southeast Alaska which provides mental health consultation to early care and learning providers (Childcare Centers, Headstart, Even Start, REACH, Preschools, etc…), as well as education and training in young children's social emotional development, and screening of young children for mental health disorders and developmental disabilities.
The interagency group Partnerships for Families and Children initiated and designed the project in response to growing concerns by early care and learning providers. They noted an increase in numbers of children they were working with who had challenging behaviors, as well as an increased severity of those challenges.
The Blanket of Wellness Project uses the relationship-based approach in efforts to promote children's social-emotional development and prevent challenging behavior. The foundation of this approach is grounded in the belief that children's early relationships have a decisive and long-lasting impact on how they develop, their capacity to learn, and their ability to regulate emotions.
In the first two years of the project an effective, interagency, community based infant and child mental health system was developed; including policies, procedures, evaluations, training outlines, and a mental health consultant manual. For more information on the Blanket of Wellness Project, please contact AEYC, 907-789-1235, or 1- 888-785-1235, or email info @aeyc-sea.org.
The Blanket of Wellness model is currently looking for a funding source to continue its services to young children and their early learning providers.

Relationship Based Approach to Supporting Children & Families
This chart represents our work to promote healthy social/emotional development in young children by starting with an emphasis on relationship-building.

		The Blanket of Wellness Project A collaborative effort between Partnerships for Families and Children agencies in Southeast Alaska which provides mental health consultation to early care and learning providers (Childcare Centers, Headstart, Even Start, REACH, Preschools, etc…), as well as education and training in young children's social emotional development, and screening of young children for mental health disorders and developmental disabilities. The interagency group Partnerships for Families and Children initiated and designed the project in response to growing concerns by early care and learning providers. They noted an increase in numbers of children they were working with who had challenging behaviors, as well as an increased severity of those challenges. The Blanket of Wellness Project uses the relationship-based approach in efforts to promote children's social-emotional development and prevent challenging behavior. The foundation of this approach is grounded in the belief that children's early relationships have a decisive and long-lasting impact on how they develop, their capacity to learn, and their ability to regulate emotions. In the first two years of the project an effective, interagency, community based infant and child mental health system was developed; including policies, procedures, evaluations, training outlines, and a mental health consultant manual. For more information on the Blanket of Wellness Project, please contact AEYC, 907-789-1235, or 1- 888-785-1235, or email info @aeyc-sea.org. The Blanket of Wellness model is currently looking for a funding source to continue its services to young children and their early learning providers. Relationship Based Approach to Supporting Children & Families This chart represents our work to promote healthy social/emotional development in young children by starting with an emphasis on relationship-building.

Quotes from Early Learning Programs: "I've been focusing on what the child is trying to tell me when he/she acts out instead of focusing on the challenging behavior." "Building a relationship with parents really helped me bond more with the children." "We change the environment instead of always trying to change the child." Blanket of Wellness Links: Blanket of Wellness Manual (716kb) Press Release National study released shows increased rates of preschool expulsion: Local program receives funding to stabilize care for young children. Parent Survey Results from Early Care & Learning Programs


This site is administered by AEYC with funding support from Best Beginnings, Communities in Schools, the Department of Health & Social Services, thread, and United Way Southeast.