Treatment Outcomes for Toddlers with Behaviour Problems from Families in Poverty

Background. Relatively few treatment studies address mental health issues in very young children. This study examined the effectiveness of a treatment program for toddlers whose behavior problems were further complicated by living in poverty. Method. An empirically-validated treatment program was adapted for use in the homes of 102 toddlers for an average of 12 weekly sessions. Results. Significant improvements were found for the children’s behavior problems and their compliance to parent requests. Discussion. The inherent challenges in working with at-risk families and the challenges in delivering mental health services for very young children living in poverty are discussed.