| Abstract: | Infants and families at high psychosocial risk may be considered “on the outside,” that is, outside of the mainstream for healthy development and for well-being because of many different factors. They may be lacking the crucial ingredients that are necessary for healthy physical and emotional development that include good nutrition and health care, predictable caregiving, and guidance to develop the intellectual and emotional skills to succeed in school and in life. Some of the risk factors that may keep infants and families “on the outside” include poverty, teenage pregnancy, and violence exposure. In this paper, I will discuss different types and levels of intervention for infants at risk taking place in different settings around the world carried out by WAIMH members including a naturalistic intervention an orphanage in St. Petersburg, Russia, a community-based intervention program in Puerto Allegre, Brazil, and a community-based violence prevention and intervention program in New Orleans, Louisiana. Variety and levels of evaluation and assessment are also discussed. Finally, as President of WAIMH, I consider different perspectives on the future for WAIMH. © 1998 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health |
