Promoting Positive Behavioral Outcomes for Infants and Toddlers

Kathleen Hague Armstrong, Ph.D., is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Past President of the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health, and current President of the Rotary Club of Temple Terrace. She is the Director of Pediatric Psychology at USF College of Medicine, with expertise in the care for children with developmental disabilities and behavioral health disorders. Dr. Armstrong prepares graduate and medical students and residents to provide integrated care within the pediatric medical home. In addition to her busy clinical and teaching schedule, Dr. Armstrong is an author and researcher. Among her articles and books, Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children's Skills (HOT DOCS) and Evidence-Based Interventions for Children with Challenging Behavior stand out as contributions to improving children's outcomes. Dr. Armstrong's research has been supported by federal, state, and foundation grants. She has been honored by her profession as Florida's School Psychologist of the Year and by her community as a finalist for the Medical Hero award. Heather Agazzi, Ph.D., is a pediatric school psychologist and Associate Professor in the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Dr. Agazzi has an active clinical practice at USF, in which she takes care of children from infancy through the teenage years and their families and trains pediatric providers in evidence-based treatments. Her research includes the promotion of infant-caregiver attachment, behavioral parent training, and interdisciplinary consultation to enhance pediatric behavioral health services. Dr. Agazzi has authored several articles and book chapters and coauthored a treatment manual called Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children's Skills (HOT DOCS) . Emily J. Shaffer-Hudkins, Ph.D., is a pediatric school psychologist and Assistant Professor in the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. As the Assistant Clinical Director for the local Part C early intervention program, she oversees all of the developmental evaluation and early intervention/therapy services provided to the 2,000 children enrolled. Her research includes the promotion of infant-caregiver attachment, health-related quality of life issues, and the use of evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary consultation to enhance pediatric behavioral health services.

Chapter 1. Introduction and Overview of Early Intervention.- Chapter 2. Developmental Screening, Assessment, and Progress Monitoring.- Chapter 3. Best Practices for Working with Infants and Toddlers.- Chapter 4. Creating a Routine for Parents of Infants and Toddlers.- Chapter 5. A Behavioral Perspective on How Children Learn.- Chapter 6. Teaching Parents How to Play with Their Children.- Chapter 7. Understanding the Function of Behavior: The HOT DOCS Chart.- Chapter 8. Strategies to Prevent Problem Behavior.- Chapter 9. Techniques to Teach Children New Skills.- Chapter 10. Responses to Challenging Behavior.- Chapter 11. Individualized Treatment Plans for Early Intervention.- Chapter 12. Helping Caregivers Manage Stress.