Early Childhood Mental Health
Lincoln Families NEST early childhood program (Nurture, Educate, Support, Thrive) knows how critical the first five years of life are and how vulnerable young children’s developing brains are to experiences of toxic stress. We prioritize early intervention and prevention-based services that promote young children's and families' social and emotional well-being. By intervening early and working within family and school systems, we work to disrupt cycles of poverty and trauma and build resilience.
WHAT WE DO | OUR WHY | OUTCOMES | RESOURCES | CONTACT
What we do
Lincoln Families NEST program provides culturally responsive, stress-informed, and relationship-based mental health consultation in preschool classrooms across Oakland. Consultation is a collaboration between adults who work with children and mental health professionals to support children’s healthy social-emotional development. We help prepare young children to be successful in school, build educators’ and parents’ capacity to promote the social and emotional well-being of the children in their care, and support families in healing after stressful life events. Our team assists caregivers and educators in creating environments that prioritize safety and connection, even during high-stress moments. Services can look like:
Classroom observations, debriefing, and brainstorming strategies with educators
Developmental screenings
Case management and referrals to community resources, special education, counseling, and more
Curricular support for social-emotional learning, sensory integration, and neurodiversity affirming practices
Individual consultations with families
Family workshops
Professional development for educators
Individualized supports for site directors and educators
our goals
Shifting the focus from surface behaviors to addressing underlying sources of stress.
Helping adults identify stress cues in both children and themselves.
Enhancing adult co-regulation skills.
Providing educators with practical tools to reduce burnout and foster greater joy and satisfaction in their work.
outcomes
100% of caregivers reported having a better understanding of how stress impacts them and their child;
90% of educators reported having more strategies and tools to address challenging behaviors; and
80% of educators and caregivers reported positive shifts in children’s behaviors.
resources
Service Delivery / Eligibility & Referrals: One of only two providers serving 100 early educators, and impacting nearly 1,000 children, ages 3-6, in 23 CDC and Head Start sites in the Oakland Unified School District. The services are free for participating sites, as well as children and families referred for services by early educators.
contact
Brooke Barnett, Psy.D.
Clinical Manager
brookebarnett@lincolnfamilies.org
510.368.5324
Ellen Kinoy, LMFT
Clinical Director
ellenkinoy@lincolnfamilies.org
510.273.4700, x4111
"I learned how important it is to develop a strong relationship with each child, getting to know them as individuals and learning about their interests and strengths."
— OUSD Early Childhood Educator