Yes, infants can experience challenges with their mental health! In fact, an estimated 10-16% of infants and toddlers face conditions like PTSD and anxiety. For infants living in poverty, that number climbs to about 22%.

Early adversity can disrupt healthy development, but strong and nurturing relationships with parents and caregivers can help build resilience and promote lifelong emotional well-being.

IECMH supports early relationships by helping parents develop skills while enabling infants and toddlers to manage emotions, explore safely, and build trust with caregivers.

Through our leadership in Safe Babies Ohio, and by partnering with advocates, partner organizations, and state agency leadership, Groundwork Ohio is joining others from around the state to shine a light on gaps in access and funding, working to identify and advance solutions that ensure more infants, toddlers, and families get the support they need.

Safe Babies Ohio not only supports healthy development at the individual and family level but also works to improve the structure and processes of Ohio’s child welfare system. This system is state-supervised and county-administered, meaning each of Ohio’s 88 counties has some flexibility in how it operates. Local Public Children’s Services Agencies (PCSAs) investigate reports of alleged child abuse and neglect, working to improve outcomes that promote safety and well-being. This may be through kinship care, foster care, or adoption when a child cannot remain safely in their home.

Under Ohio law, abuse includes harm or risk of harm from physical or mental injury, sexual offenses, or behavior that endangers a child’s safety. Neglect includes situations where a child does not receive adequate care because of a caregiver’s inability or failure to provide essentials such as food, shelter, health care, education, or other care needed for the child’s well-being. These definitions are broad enough that families who are struggling to meet basic needs may come into contact with the child welfare system, even when they are loving and committed caregivers.

Groundwork Ohio coordinates this work in partnership with local teams in Cuyahoga, Scioto, and Lucas Counties. Together, we aim to strengthen family stability, promote better outcomes for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers, and prevent deeper involvement in the child welfare system when it is safe to do so.