April Program Agenda

Dr. Winterstein is a licensed psychologist with more than twenty-five years experience in the treatment of abused, neglected and violence exposed children and their families.  She has seven years experience as Executive Director of For The Child and was FTC’s Clinical Director for fifteen years prior to her current role. She currently serves as the Clinical Committee Co-Chair on a multi-agency SAMHSA project dedicated to quality care and improved system coordination for the youngest, most vulnerable children needing mental health and child welfare services.

Michele has been recognized by the Congress of the United States, the State of California, and the Interagency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) for her work with abused and neglected children. She served as Associate Chair and Editor of the State of California, Victims of Crime Program Standards of Care Task Force, which published treatment guidelines for child crime victims in May 2001.  She is a past-president of the Long Beach Child Trauma Council (the oldest child abuse council in California and part of the group that became EndAbuse Long Beach) and was awarded the Child Protection Award by the council in 1999.  Her doctorate degree in clinical psychology and a master’s degree in theology were awarded by Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA in 1982.

Overview:
When you hear about Early Childhood Mental Health, do you ever wonder what it is and whether infants, toddlers and preschoolers belong in the therapist's office?  How can mental health services be useful for children who are too young to speak?  Would you be able to recognize when a young child needs developmental screening, mental health assessment, or the help of a therapist.  Dr. Winterstein will integrate clinical experience, research on best practices, findings from national and local child abuse data, and the many current initiatives focusing on programs for children birth to five and their families.  This program will present best practices for helping young children recover from the effects of abuse, neglect and violence; and the most promising current approaches for strengthening families and supporting bonding, attachment, healthy development and preventing child maltreatment.

• Describe the scope of the problem using local and national data on child abuse, neglect and violence exposure for children birth - 5 years old
• Understand the effects of trauma on infants, toddlers and preschoolers
• Understand the importance of creating strong and healthy bonds between child and parent/primary, caregiver and why most treatment for young children is dyadic, working with child and parent together
• Identify the best practice/research supported therapeutic methods used to assist young children with trauma and other emotional and behavioral difficulties
• Identify the programs and resources in our community that provide these specialized therapeutic interventions and other family supports that help protect children from abuse, neglect and violence
• Understand the importance of early intervention to promote healthy development and prevent the consequences of early adversity in infants and toddlers
• Identify ways that families and communities can work together as partners in ensuring the well-being of infants, toddlers and preschoolers