In a bold move toward fostering the holistic development of children and families, Voices of Tomorrow (VOT) is pleased to introduce the adoption of a new program called ECLIPSE, which stands for Early Childhood Intervention and Prevention Services. It is designed to provide mental health and trauma-informed support for children enrolled in the VOT preschool program and their parents and families. At the heart of ECLIPSE is a commitment to providing tailored support for each child. Hangatu Dawud, the program’s mental health professional emphasizes this approach, stating, “Creating a tailored Individual Care Plan (ICP) for each student allows me to identify their areas of need and growth, with the goal of creating measurable treatment goals to improve each child’s well-being.”

The primary focus of ECLIPSE is to offer therapeutic services for families experiencing hardships or facing at-risk factors that could jeopardize overall family development. With a particular emphasis on children with behavioral issues, ECLIPSE recognizes the importance of overall well-being, encompassing the mental, emotional, and social growth of a child.

To further emphasize the urgent need for support, research findings published by Front Public Health in the National Library of Medicine from 2023 highlight a significant prevalence of mental health conditions within the Somali population. The study reveals alarming rates with anxiety affecting 34.9% of individuals, PTSD at 30%, and depression at 32.1%. These staggering statistics underscore the profound impact of prolonged conflict, displacement, and associated psychological distress, emphasizing the pressing requirement for specialized programs like ECLIPSE.

The impact of ECLIPSE extends beyond the confines of the classroom. The program actively engages with families one-on-one in their homes, providing various modes of communication, including Zoom, phone sessions, and meeting families in alternative safe spaces. This ensures that support is seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily life, accommodating the busy schedules of families.

Alongside one-on-one meetings, the program includes monthly check-ins facilitated by a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT). This team includes a licensed mental health professional, a program coordinator, a health manager, teachers, and Family Support Specialists (FSS).

“The goal is to have them throughout the school year, and then provide a transition plan for when they exit the VOT preschool program,” Farheen Khalid, the program coordinator, said.

She emphasizes the importance of these additional monthly meetings, saying that this space allows for ongoing communication between professionals and parents, and gives them an opportunity to address parents’ requests and concerns directly. Establishing a foundation of trust and collaboration early on, ECLIPSE aims to empower families to navigate a spectrum of challenges effectively.

ECLIPSE currently offers 30 slots, ensuring a personalized and in-depth approach. The program utilizes regular screenings, such as the DECA (Devereux Early Childhood Assessment), to monitor a child’s social-emotional well-being, behavior, and self-regulation. If further evaluation is needed, the DECA-C (Devereux Early Childhood Assessment, Clinical), is employed, incorporating 40 questions to understand parents’ observations of their child’s behavior.

ECLIPSE does not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, the program tailors its support to the unique dynamics of each family. Recognizing and building on existing strengths, ECLIPSE empowers parents to become active participants in their child’s development. To alleviate the stigma associated with therapy, the program adopts a culturally sensitive and informal approach, breaking down barriers and promoting open communication.

To acknowledge and accommodate the diverse backgrounds of the families it serves, the mental health professional leading the ECLIPSE program is fluent in both English and Somali. This offers a dual-language capability to ensure effective interaction and understanding. Families already enrolled in the VOT preschool program can qualify for ECLIPSE by meeting certain indicators outlined in the ECAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) application.

Voices of Tomorrow’s ECLIPSE program is a beacon of hope for families facing adversity. By combining early childhood intervention with a family-centric approach, ECLIPSE is poised to make a lasting impact on the mental health and well-being of children and parents alike. As the program evolves and expands, it holds the promise of becoming a model for other organizations committed to fostering the healthy development of future generations.