Nurturing the Seed
Infant and early mental health, ages 0–5
Nurturing the Seed (NTS) is an innovative infant and early mental health program that aims to support and strengthen the well-being of Indigenous children, parents and caregivers, and communities.
NTS fosters local leadership, supports front-line service providers, and responds to the needs of families by providing tools, coaching and resources specific to the health and development of infants and children ages 0–5. It uses developmental screening and culturally relevant, relationship-focused planning to support optimal development in young children.
How it came about
Created in 2019, the NTS model was co-designed by Infant and Early Mental Health Promotion (IEMHP) in partnership with Indigenous Elders and experts, to incorporate and reflect cultural practices and values. It was developed to address the challenges many families face in accessing timely and appropriate services and supports when developmental concerns arise. NTS offers responsive, simple, tangible strategies for families to use in daily life straight away, while waiting for specialized services that often have long waitlists.
The philosophy
NTS is an inclusive and flexible program that agencies can adapt to their community’s own needs and service delivery models. Its philosophy rests on three ideas:
- The first five years of life are crucial for a child’s development.
- Parents and caregivers are the experts in their child’s life.
- Early developmental screening, using tools such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQs), is vital.