Mental Health and COVID-19

It is important to watch out for the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of our children.  There are numerous resources out there to help your children understand what is going on.  Our Children will be confronted with this the next time that they enter the school (or have to study from home again). 

Child Mental Health - How Schools Can Help Address Challenges

An accomplished early childhood psychologist and academic administrator, Timothy Kovacs holds a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). A master of psychology graduate from California State University, Fullerton, he serves as the assistant director of education services with the Baldwin Park Unified School District, a position he has held for a decade. Timothy Kovacs specializes in various issues affecting early childhood education including mental health.

In recent times, children’s mental health has become one of the most challenging issues facing the education system and society in general. Even though parents and guardians can easily identify and provide for their children’s physical needs, such as nutritious food and clothing, a child’s mental and emotional needs may not be easy to detect. The school has a major role to contribute towards improving the mental health of children as teachers often find themselves on the frontline of dealing with mental health issues at school.

The school environment can be a great catalyst for impacting change in the mental status of their students. For instance, mental health needs to be firmly integrated into the school curriculum as this will help address issues surrounding stigma in school and develop a better understanding of how they can be solved. Without doing this, children with mental health issues may not realize their deteriorating health and may also remain silent and fear seeking help. Teachers and students having open discussions about mental health is an excellent way of helping kids gain knowledge and understanding of mental health issues. Schools should strive to talk more about mental health the same way they do for other areas such as physical development and healthy eating.

First Five LA Works to Strengthen Child Development Systems

Timothy Kovacs draws on a master’s in psychology and decades of clinical therapy experience as the assistant director of education services at the Baldwin Park Unified School District’s Early Childhood Education programs. Outside of his professional work, Timothy Kovacs also serves in the Data Work Group for First Five LA.

Created in 1998 by California voters, First Five LA supports healthy child development and works to prepare all kids for kindergarten by the year 2028. The organization is an independent public agency that currently relies on a comprehensive policy agenda to guide its systematic efforts to better prepare children and support families.

One element of First Five LA’s policy agenda involves strengthening systems and services that promote family well-being. This area of focus includes working to expand access to family services that optimize child development, such as voluntary home visits. In addition, the organization advocates for services that help young children learn self-sufficiency while also improving the coordination of service delivery to families.

For a full breakdown of the First Five LA policy agenda, visit www.first5la.org/policy-agenda.