Brianna and Tanya: A case study about infant and early childhood mental health

By completing the Brianna and Tanya case study, participants will:

• Use research in making practice decisions on infant and early childhood mental health.

• Examine the needs of children from an interdisciplinary perspective.

• Think holistically about working with other providers to serve children.

• Recognize the importance of prevention and early intervention in children’s mental health.

• Apply ecological and developmental perspectives to children’s mental health.

• Predict probable outcomes for children based on services they receive.

A main purpose of this case is to introduce users to the field of infant mental health. Infant mental health:

• Emphasizes the important relationship between a child and the parents or primary caregivers in helping a child grow.

• Refers to the ability to learn, grow and express emotions within the context of healthy relationships with others.

Understanding infant mental health is a key to promoting healthy social and emotional development and preventing challenges later on.

Currently, the Brianna and Tanya case study is only available as part of an academic course. The Brianna and Tanya case study is ideal for use within graduate course settings but can also be used in undergraduate course settings. It is designed to be used as a supplement to existing course curricula.

This case study consists of 20 chapters. The way this case study is set up, people can either:

• Read through and complete the activities fairly quickly.

• Dive in more deeply to the research and resources.

The exact length of time for completion is a function of how much an individual user wishes to engage with the content they have access to.  Participants average 15-25 minutes per chapter. They generally take an average of 3-5 hours to complete the whole case study.

The Brianna and Tanya case is comprised of 20 chapters. Most of the chapters contain the following sections.

Stories

The story sections describe the experiences of a young woman named Brianna and members of her family and community. Voice recordings are available for all story sections.

Quizzes

Each chapter contains one or more quiz sections, with questions that test the user on content specific to that chapter.

Users and instructors are invited to complete an online evaluation survey to provide feedback about their experience.

Research

Each chapter contains one or more research sections that provide links to relevant articles that are peer reviewed or available in the public domain.

Activities

Some chapters contain an activity section that requires interaction with the case study content.

Other Elements

The case study also uses videos, blogs and links to engage users in the content presented.

Users receive a certificate of completion and full bibliography upon completion of the case.

Users and instructors are invited to complete an online evaluation survey to provide feedback about their experience.

The Brianna and Tanya case study has been well-received by instructors and participants alike. Here’s what they are saying.

Feedback from instructors

“What I like about the case study is it ‘brings to life’ a situation that is very plausible in early childhood classrooms.”

“What is compelling to me about this case study is that it starts before the child is born. It allows for discussion of the pre-history of what you may see depending on where you enter the family story. In terms of helping students understand why prevention and supportive services are so critical — the way this case study is configured creates a pathway for discussion and teaching. While the story line is easy to follow, the added readings and activities provide ways to dive deep into each topic as well as make direct links to the current research on children's mental health.”

“Realistic scenarios!”

“Thank you for developing this very useful case study and innovative study model!”

“Thanks for the opportunity to participate and for your very thoughtful process in developing such a great resource!”

Feedback from participants

“Really appreciated the research resources. These were relevant and not overwhelming. Also, people can pick and choose.”

“Loved the variety [of links and videos]- especially the one on maternal depression. The video beautifully reflected different ethnic groups.”

“The videos are really good for those who are less inclined to read all the academic research articles. The (video) presenters present research in very accessible ways. Also, the videos are short and concise.”

“I appreciate that the viewer/participant has opportunities not only to consider the ‘best’ responses but also to reflect on what sometimes happens that shuts down communication and relationship building. There are lots of ways that students and novice professionals can use this tool to build practice skills and for more experienced professionals to hone skills.”

“I learned a lot of new information about the roles of the social worker in this setting as well as the role of an early childhood specialist”

“[The case] allowed me to see the big picture beyond the child in the classroom. We can only best help the child when we could get everyone (parents, educators, specialists, etc.) involved.”