Record last updated 2025/03/24 Comment on this info .Update this info

Narrative

The Center for Early Childhood combines services formerly known as the Preschool Outreach Project or POP and the Rice Center. 

Through a combination of direct care and consultation services, The Center works with children, parents/caregivers, and professionals. We help to build and support strong social-emotional foundations for happy, healthy childhoods. 

The Center provides age-appropriate, culturally sensitive interventions for children and families in a variety of settings. We use our child-friendly clinic, homes, early education settings, shelters, and community spaces.

Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Outpatient Services are primarily funded by insurance reimbursement for:

• individual and family therapy
• case and family consults
• preventative behavioral health groups for children

Services are provided by Master’s Level ECMH Clinicians. They have training in evidence-based practices. They get individual and group supervision and reflective practice supports. ECMH Clinicians serve young children in the context of their family and community facing a spectrum of behavioral health risk and resilience.

ECMH Clinicians promote a family-centered, strengths-based, and equity-aware philosophy of

intervention

engaging through relationship-based care

We address issues including typical development, family transitions, trauma, attachment, anxiety and/or depression, chronic stress, and post-partum adjustment. 

Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Consultation Services are primarily funded by a contract from the MA Department of Early Education and Care.  These services are provided by ECMH Consultants. Consultants have lived-experience as early educators and/or parents of children in early education settings. Consultations are prevention-focused  addressing the developmental, social-emotional, and behavioral needs and capacities of children in early education settings. ECMH Consultants build program capacity and life-long success by:

   – Reducing or eliminating the use of exclusionary practices (ie-suspension and expulsion)
   – Identifying, preventing, and reducing the impact of emotional stressors
   – Coaching staff to implement strategies addressing child- and classroom-specific concerns 
   – Supporting caregivers/families to access services and supports 
   – Reducing educator stress/turnover 

Service Types

• Family Support
• Mental Health

Program Type

• Counseling
• Mental Health

Populations Served

• Behavior Disorder
• Depression
• Mental Illness
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Ages Served

• Birth to 3
• 3 - 4
• 5 - 8

Accessibility Features

• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Restrooms

Additional Information

• Fees: MassHealth, Private Insurance, Personal Funds