The Southwest Voice

By: Patty Keefer

The first years of a child’s life sets the stage for future relationships and experiences.  A secure attachment to loving caregivers who possess the skills, maturity, resources and commitment to guide a child into adulthood is essential. The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic’s Early Intervention Program, 3628 Stockdale Highway, is designed to strengthen attachment between a parent and young child and to improve overall parenting skills.

Our staff can assist caregivers in coping effectively with and improving behaviors such as: temper tantrums; sleep difficulties; oppositional or disruptive behavior; difficulty making friends; fighting or aggression; behavior problems in day care; difficulty coping with family changes such as divorce or death; withdrawal, isolation or persistent sadness; hyperactivity; impulsiveness; jealously; anxiety or fear; other behavioral problems; and poor attachment and bonding.

As a recipient of funding from the Kern County Mental Health Department and First 5 Kern the Early Intervention Program is able to provide services to all families with children, up to 5 years old, who are not have Medi-Cal or Healthy Families members, regardless of income. By providing treatment early in life, we increase the chance for success thereby giving children a stronger foundation to help them make the right choices when faced with difficult decisions in the future.