Ashley Bertsch is an early childhood mental health consultant at the child care centers that participate in Book Buddy. Her position is funded by United Way of Central Iowa's Women's Leadership Connection, which is committed to ensuring that our youngest students have the best start in education and in life.
Ashley's overarching goal is to help ensure school readiness, specifically related to important social and emotional skills. Here, she answers questions about children's mental health, trauma, and literacy.
Q: What is children's mental health?
A: Mental health is the way we think, feel, relate to others, handle stress, and make decisions. It also includes the way we see ourselves. Mental health is important at every stage of life.
I think this is still a challenging concept for many people to grasp—that infants, toddlers, and children have mental health.
