New mental health services aimed at helping preschoolers
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

At 56, married and working a full-time job, Sue Tatangelo was comfortable in her additional role as a grandmother.

Then one day last spring, her life changed abruptly when she became the legal guardian of her 3½yearold grandson after her son died.

With their youngest child 35 years old, Tatangelo and her husband were faced with not only relearning how to care for a small child again but how to meet the needs of one with developmental problems.

Someone told her about the preschool program at the Pleasant Valley Neighborhood for Learning in Camarillo.

The toddler is now not only attending preschool for the first time, but the Tatangelos have found a number of the services offered very valuable, such as the free mental health counseling program that began last month through Interface Children Family Services.

"It's been a great resource," Tatangelo said. "I'm feeling like I have so much hope because there are services like this out there."

First 5 Ventura County, sponsor of the 11 Neighborhood for Learning centers that dot the county, recently teamed up with the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department to provide free mental health treatment to children up to 5 years old and their families.

"We're excited," said Jamie Cook Tate, Pleasant Valley Neighborhood for Learning executive director. "It's another wonderful resource that we are able to offer the families of Camarillo and Somis that helps support them in their role as their child's first teacher and prepares the child to enter school healthy and ready to learn."

The two county agencies provide the services through subcontractors such as Interface. Eligibility for preschool-age children is dependent on them exhibiting behavior that would jeopardize their place in school or the ability to thrive and grow.

Tatangelo recently visited the therapist and learned about the child-friendly techniques that might be used to help the boy and the family.

"I'm so excited about what can be unleashed for him going through all this, as well as for me," Tatangelo said.

Interface therapists will also be available to train preschool teachers on what behaviors to look for when a child is in need of counseling. The teacher will then talk with the parents and offer them a referral to a therapist free of charge.

Mental health counseling services are available at the Conejo Valley Neighborhood for Learning and will be available at the Moorpark and Simi Valley facilities by the end of August.

Parents of infants and toddlers who are interested in the mental health counseling services or those who want more information about the service can contact their nearest Neighborhood for Learning or visit first5ventura.org and click on "Neighborhoods for Learning."