What is the ECSS program?
Early Childhood Supports and Services (ECSS) supports children (ages 0 to 5) and families facing challenges including mental health, behavioral issues, attachment problems, trauma exposure, violence and social factors like housing and employment. ECSS aims to enhance the overall well-being of families, by promoting healthy social-emotional development, nurturing positive parent-child relationships and connecting families to resources in the community to address social contributors to health and well-being.
The ECSS Network
The ECSS Network is a continually evolving network of community partners providing support in areas such as housing, food security, workforce development, childcare/early education, domestic violence intervention and parental mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
What We Do
Our team of specialists provides grant-funded infant and early childhood mental health services to children ages 0 to 5 and their families. We currently serve families from Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. ECSS offers family support services as well as specialized clinical mental health services. Families may engage with one or more of our core components of service. Our dedicated team will work with your child and family to decide which supports and services will be most effective.
Family Support Services
The family support team is made up of case managers and community health workers who work directly with families. We help families identify their needs and effectively connect them with resources in the community to meet those needs. ECSS also focuses on developmental promotion through our partnership with Training Grounds. Training Grounds is a New Orleans-based organization that assists families, educators, and communities in strengthening the foundation on which children can succeed. They offer a variety of programming designed to create rich learning experiences for children and positive adult-child interactions. These include community playgroups, resource fairs, developmental screenings and Parent Learning Opportunities. Training Grounds programs and workshops are specifically geared for parents, caregivers, and educators of children ages 0 to 5.
Specialized Mental Health Services
Faculty at Tulane and LSU have been recognized as leaders in the field of infant and early childhood mental health, having years of research and clinical experience with young children and families. The multidisciplinary team at ECSS offers therapy services by Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHP) with expertise in infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH). These evidence-based practices (EBP) include therapies that address trauma, strengthen parent-child relationships, and enhance positive parenting to improve emotional regulation and reduce disruptive behaviors. Examples include Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Parent-Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT). We also deliver psychiatric services by qualified professionals specializing in infant and early childhood mental health, ensuring appropriate diagnosis and treatment for mental health needs.
Why It Matters
Louisiana’s children need mental health support:
- In Louisiana, 11.2% of infants and toddlers have had two or more adverse childhood experiences. This is higher than the national average, while rates of developmental screenings across Louisiana are notably lower than the national average at just 26.2%.
- Economic uncertainty, increased social isolation and concerns about access to health care are increasing stress in parents, placing children’s mental health at risk.
- Families impacted by systemic inequities experience compounded stressors, potentially impacting current and long-term effects on physical and mental health.
- If early childhood mental health concerns are not addressed, they can lead to issues like difficulty with behavior or learning when starting school, abnormal brain development, and unhealthy relationships.
- ECSS is helping to address the extreme shortage of trained early childhood mental health providers in our region, which impacts children’s access to effective treatment.
- Addressing infant and early childhood mental health concerns early on leads to better lifetime outcomes and can help children stay on track to meet developmental milestones and be ready for school.
Referrals: What to Expect at ECSS
Team
Tulane Team
Clinical Co-Director: Sarah Hinshaw
Medical Director: Charley Zeanah
Senior Clinicians: Letia Bailey, Valerie Wajda-Johnston
Psychiatrist: Julianna Finelli
Site Director: Asha Gibson
Program Manager: Victoria Utria
Community Health Workers (3):
Case Managers (2):
LMHPs (5): Maria Casati
Mental Health consultants: Anna Kelley, Melissa Middleton, Monica Stevens
LSUHSC Team
Clinical Co-Director: Amy Dickson
Oversight Committee Member: Joy Osofsky
Senior Clinician: Amy Rinner
Training Grounds Team
Director of Parent Learning: Melanie Richardson
Program Director: Christine Neely
Director, We PLAY Center: Sharon Gancarz-Davies
Parent Educators: Isis Johnson, Ja’Brielle Manuel
Family Social Worker/Program Coordinator: Shay Claiborne
Partner Organizations: Tulane, LSUHSC, Training Grounds
Contact
How to Reach Us
Call 504-862-ECSS (3277)
