We are pleased to share our first newsletter with you.  You can look forward to issues four times a year.  If you have comments or suggestions for future issues, please contact us. While our organization continues to experience many of the same challenges that other organizations face, our exceptional client care and community service remain constant.  We believe we make a difference in people's lives, and that our communities are better places because of us.  We hope you will agree.

Sue McGatha
President and CEO

Samaritan Behavioral Health
We are Dayton's oldest community mental health center.  Founded in 1965, our programs have been consistently recognized for caring and helping individuals and families build a better future.

We are able to help young children from birth through kindergarten grow and develop so that they can play well with others, concentrate and learn, and become ready to succeed in school. We are able to help school-aged children, adolescents and their families learn skills to develop healthy behaviors that help them to do better in home, school and the community. We also help adults strengthen their coping skills to better deal with life. Whether it is managing chronic medical conditions, coping with loss and grief, healing from trauma, developing healthy relationships and/or improving depression or anxiety, our services work.

We remain passionately committed to being the best provider of behavioral health services in the region, and to improving the quality of life in our community.

Young Children's Assessment & Treatment Services (YCATS)

YCATS provides mental health services to children from birth through kindergarten and their families.  These children have challenges fitting into home and daycare situations.  They may have experienced trauma, been placed in foster care, exposed to parental separation, or have a developmental condition that affects their ability to regulate their behavior.  Some have no history that helps explain their behaviors. 

A wide variety of YCATS services allows inpidualized treatment for each child and family. 

Intensive Group Counseling
This service brings together a small group of preschoolers who have been unsuccessful in typical early childhood groups (i.e. Head Start, Daycare, Kindergarten) due to their challenging behavior.  Many of them have been asked to leave their previous group because of aggression, high activity level, non-compliance with adults or some other disruptive behavior.  Therapists work with the children to identify and support each child's strengths, build strong relationships, and to encourage the development of self control and competence in group settings.  As each child progresses, YCATS helps them to transition back into typical learning and care environments.

Inpidual and Family Counseling
More children are seen each year for inpidual and family counseling than for intensive group therapy.  This is usually due to infants, toddlers and preschoolers having similar problems but not necessarily as severe.  Family schedules also can make it difficult to participate in group counseling.  Also, they may have more inpidualized problems that are best worked with in inpidual and family counseling.  They usually receive a combination of play therapy and family therapy.

Occupational Therapy and Sensory Integration
YCATS is interested in the whole child.  We have found a close association between developmental issues and behavioral concerns in young children.  To address this, we have an Occupational Therapist (OT) and an Occupational Therapy Assistant on the staff.  Most of the children in intensive group therapy are assessed by our OT specialists. 

Infant Mental Health
Many people are surprised to learn that some infants and toddlers need mental health services.  The reality, however, is that there are many young children who experience problems with attachment, failure to thrive, exposure to trauma, developmental challenges, or other conditions that affect them emotionally.  YCATS has experts who work with infants, toddlers, and their caregivers to strengthen relationships and improve emotional functioning.

Consultation and Training
Through state grants and contracts with child serving organizations, YCATS staff provides on-site consultation to early childhood centers in child behavior management and social/emotional development.  By working directly with teachers and parents at daycare centers and other "natural environments" for young children, many issues can be addressed early and future problems prevented. Similarly, YCATS staff provides training to child care providers, parents, and other child-serving professionals on topics associated with Early Childhood Mental Health.

Andy was quieter and less exploratory. He seemed unable or unwilling to use the many words he had known before. Rather than play alongside his friends, Andy went off by himself. He would tear a book instead of look at it and turn a car upside down over and over again. Outside, Andy spent as much time possible swinging on the swing staring into space. Where was the Andy they had known?

A YCATS Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant regularly visited Andy's daycare to observe and meet with teachers and parents. Andy's teachers turned to him for advice. The consultant quickly confirmed the teacher's observations and concerns. He recommended that the teachers talk with Andy's parents and suggested a complete medical exam and a hearing screening. The consultant offered to meet with Andy's parents.

By the time Andy's parents met with the consultant, they had already been referred to Children's Medical Center's Developmental Pediatric Clinic. They were worried that something was wrong with Andy. The consultant listened to their concerns and gently explained how Andy's symptoms were consistent with Autistism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He answered the parent's questions about what they had been told and provided information about the importance of early intervention. He also suggested a treatment approach that matched their values and goals regarding their son.

When the consultant and the parents met again a few weeks later, Andy's diagnosis had been confirmed by Children's Medical Center. The discussion focused on helping the parents accept Andy's condition and identify specific strategies for addressing Andy's behavioral, developmental, and emotional needs.

The consultant worked as a liaison between the family, the school, and other service providers. He supported the family as they moved into putting together "Team Andy" with energy, persistence, and creativity. The consultant provided training in ASD for the family, the school staff, and a cadre of volunteers to help make sure all parties understood Andy, the nature of his condition, and the reasons for the treatment plan.

Today, several months later, Andy displays a wide array of emotions, interacts more with adults and peers and has shown a capacity for increased communication. Progress ebbs and flows, as is typical for children with ASD, but the outlook is hopeful.

In Andy's case, the YCATS consultant facilitated the coming together of many talented, motivated, and creative people on behalf of Andy's brighter future.

• Communicate.  Spend time every day listening and talking to children about what is happening in their lives.  Share emotions and feelings with them.
• Give children unconditional love.  Children need to know that your love does not depend on what they do.
• Nurture confidence and self-esteem.  Praise and encourage your children, and set realistic goals that test their abilities.  Accept mistakes and failures as part of life.
• Encourage children to play.  Playtime is important to children's emotional development.  Play helps children be creative, develop problem-solving skills and self-control, and to learn how to get along with others.
• Give appropriate guidance and discipline.  Be firm but kind and realistic with your expectations.  The goal is not to control your children but to help them learn self-control.
• Provide a safe and secure environment.  Fear can be very real for children.  When they are frightened, try to find out why.  Respond by being loving, patient, and reassuring. 

If you are concerned about your child's mental health, talk to his or her teachers, guidance counselor or other adult who may have information about his or her behavior.  If you think there is a problem, seek professional help. 

Primary Diagnoses of our Clients

• Samaritan CrisisCare:
• Alcohol Dependence
• Cannabis Dependence
• Bipolar Disorder
• All other SBHI services:
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Major Depressive Disorde

A. Parents and family members are usually the first to notice if a child has problems with emotions or behavior. Your observations, along with those of teachers and other caregivers, can help determine whether you need to seek help for your child.

The following signs may indicate the need for professional help:

• Decline in school performance
• Poor grades despite strong efforts
• Constant worry or anxiety
• Repeated refusal to go to school or to take part in normal activities
• Hyperactivity or fidgeting
• Persistent nightmares
• Persistent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Depression, sadness, or irritability

What do I do if I think my child has a problem?

A. If you suspect a problem, talk to your child's pediatrician or contact a mental health professional.