NEGLECT AND MY BABY

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NEGLECT AND MY BABYS BRAIN Applying
Theory to Practice David Silverman, Strategy
Manager, Parenting Support
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My Babys Brain

• Applying policy to practice

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My Babys Brain

• The Rationale
• The Implementation
• Theory into Practice

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My Babys BrainApplying Theory to Practice in
Hertfordshire

• My Babys Brain is an early intervention
  programme promoting secure attachment in families
  with babies and young children 0-3, in the
  everyday home environment

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My Babys Brain

• The Rationale
• Parenting in the early years is one of the most
  significant influences on a childs wellbeing,
  resilience and life chances

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My Babys Brain

• The Rationale
• The volume of the human brain increases more
  during the first year of life than at any time
  (from 400gm to 1000gm)
• This growth spurt continues into the 2nd year,
  with substantial production of nerve cells and
  synapse connections or pathways.

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My Babys BrainDensity of neural connections at
2 months
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My Babys Brain Density of neural connections
at 3 months
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My Babys Brain Density of neural connections
at 6 months
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My Babys Brain Density of neural connections
at 12 months
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My Babys Brain
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My Babys Brain

• Brain development depends on predictable,
  nurturing, repetitive and responsive parental
  behaviour, attuned to the childs stage of
  development
• This includes specific experiences, including
  responsive gaze, handling, and talking to the
  baby
• Child Abuse and Neglect and the Brain A Review
• (Danya Glaser, Journal 0f Child Psychology and
  Psychiatry, 2000)

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My Babys BrainThe Rationale

• Decades of research tell us that mutually
  rewarding interactions are essential
  prerequisites for the development of healthy
  brain circuits
• The science of early childhood development
• Centre on the Developing Child
• Harvard University 2007

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My Babys Brain
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My Babys BrainThe Rationale

• Secure attachments in the first 2 years lay the
  foundations for resilience, positive mental
  health and wellbeing, and the ability to create
  healthy relationships in adolescence and
  adulthood
• Secure attachments in the first 2 years lay the
  foundations for secure attachments into adulthood

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My Babys Brain

• Attachment has effects across the life-course

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My Babys Brain

• The Rationale
• Neglect and insecure attachments can lead to
• Difficulties in forming attachments and
  relationships
• Increased risk of physical and mental ill-health
• Increased risk of substance misuse
• Lower educational achievements
• Difficulties in assuming parenting
  responsibilities
• Difficulties in nurturing attachment

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My Babys Brain

• Implementation
• A multi-agency project conveying to parents of
  babies (aged 0-3), in a simple, accessible way,
  the principles of attachment and early brain
  development.
• Printed and on-line resources
• Five to Thrive a simple 5-a-day message
• Training for Childrens centre workers, health
  visitors, social workers etc. who incorporate
  Five to Thrive into their everyday work with
  parents

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My Babys Brain

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My Babys Brain

• The Implementation
• Weaving Five to Thrive into the everyday work
  of health visitors, children's centre workers,
  social workers etc.
• A common message across agencies
• Conveying to parents of young children (0-3) the
  principles of attachment and impact of attachment
  behaviours on baby brain development, in simple
  accessible language

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My Babys Brain 600 staff trained
Childrens Centre staff
GPs
Educational Psychologists
Intensive Family Support workers
School workers
Nursery nurses and childcare workers
Health Visitors
Social Workers
Student Health Visitors
Library workers
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www.hertsdirect.org/mybabysbrain
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My Babys Brain Implementation

• The Red Book Child Health Record
• NCT and antenatal sessions
• 150 early years childcare settings trained
• 140 childminders trained
• Link between My Babys Brain and parenting
  assessments (Graded Care Profile)
• Recovery Project to address insecure attachment
  (Its not too late!)

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Application of My Babys Brain 1

• Child on Supervision Order
• CIN Plan
• Team Around the Family Social worker, health
  visitor, childrens centre a consistent message
• Parent with learning disability and mental health
  problems
• Two children looked after
• Practical application of Five to Thrive in CIN
  visits

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Application of My Babys Brain 2

• Teenage Parent
• Her own mother requested support for her at the
  age of 3
• Anger issues
• Under-achieving at school
• Addiction
• Trouble with the police
• Domestic violence
• Difficult relationships
• Possible postnatal depression
• Relationships
• Own family
• Children
• Partner

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Impact of My Babys Brain

• I dont want what happened to me to happen to my
  children. I love my children and I want to be a
  good mum. I have recognised and am working on my
  own anger issues and I have to do this to help my
  children.
• I am a good parent. I can listen to other
  people now, I might not agree or like what they
  say! I can ask for help and accept help now. I
  know that I need help in my relationship with my
  partner if we are going to stay together but my
  children are more important.
• Being with my children is all that matters and I
  want the best for them.

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My Babys Brain

• References
• Early Intervention Next Steps (Allen Report)
• Parenting Matters, Chris Paterson. Centre Forum
• The Science of Parenting. Margot Sunderland
• Why Love Matters. Sue Gerhardt
• Attachment Across the Lifecourse. David Howe
• Attachment in Common Sense and Doodles. Miriam
  Silver
• www.hertsdirect.org/mybabysbrain

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My Babys Brain

• Thank you