Honest and Open Communication
As a loving community of caring givers, Mettle Child, Inc., aspires to bestow the best life experience to your child. We believe children are one of God’s most precious gifts. Thereby, we have a responsibility as an organization and community to invest our resources to care for those who cannot care for themselves. As parents, legal guardians, and counselors in your child's life, we play a critical role in shaping their future.
We wholeheartedly believe that every child must have a strong cultural, social, and spiritual foundation to be adequately equipped for success. Anticipating the increasing need for family crisis prevention and early intervention, Mettle Child's family resources are designed to collaborate with other children and family services providers to endow the best comprehensive restorative services for this important work.
Protect and Nurture the Ones You Care Most About
Explore resources that will help you prevent emotional, behavioral, and developmental problems. Do not be discouraged if your child continues to struggle with the same challenges. Studies have proven that the longer a child has suffered, the longer the healing process; and progress may take years to procure.
We wholeheartedly believe that every child must have a strong cultural, social, and spiritual foundation to be adequately equipped for success. Anticipating the increasing need for family crisis prevention and early intervention, Mettle Child's family resources are designed to collaborate with other children and family services providers to endow the best comprehensive restorative services for this important work.
Protect and Nurture the Ones You Care Most About
Explore resources that will help you prevent emotional, behavioral, and developmental problems. Do not be discouraged if your child continues to struggle with the same challenges. Studies have proven that the longer a child has suffered, the longer the healing process; and progress may take years to procure.
Patience
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry parents are usually the first to recognize that their child has a problem with emotions or behavior. Still, the decision to seek professional help can be difficult and painful for a parent. The first step is to gently try to talk to the child. An honest open talk about feelings can often help. Parents may choose to consult with the child's physicians, teachers, members of the clergy, or other adults who know the child well. These steps may resolve the problems for the child and family.
Following are a few signs which may indicate that a child and adolescent psychiatric evaluation will be useful
Younger Children
Pre-Adolescents and Adolescents
If problems persist over an extended period of time or if others involved in your child's life are concerned, please consider seeking a consultation with a child and adolescent psychiatrist or a trained mental health professional.
Following are a few signs which may indicate that a child and adolescent psychiatric evaluation will be useful
Younger Children
- Poor grades in school despite trying very hard
- Marked fall in school performance
- Severe worry or anxiety, as shown by regular refusal to go to school, go to
sleep or take part in activities that are normal for the child's age - Frequent physical complaints
- Hyperactivity; fidgeting; constant movement beyond regular playing with or
without difficulty paying attention - Persistent nightmares
- Persistent disobedience or aggression (longer than 6 months) and provocative
opposition to authority figures - Frequent, unexplainable temper tantrums
- Threatens to harm or kill oneself
Pre-Adolescents and Adolescents
- Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
- Marked decline in school performance
- Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
- Extreme difficulties in concentrating that get in the way at school or at home
- Sexual acting out
- Depression shown by sustained, prolonged negative mood and attitude, often accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death
- Severe mood swings
- Strong worries or anxieties that get in the way of daily life, such as at
school or socializing - Repeated use of alcohol and/or drugs
- Intense fear of becoming obese with no relationship to actual body weight, excessive dieting, throwing up or using laxatives to loose weight
- Persistent nightmares
- Threats of self-harm or harm to others
- Self-injury or self destructive behavior
- Frequent outbursts of anger, aggression
- Repeated threats to run away
- Aggressive or non-aggressive consistent violation of rights of others; opposition to authority, truancy, thefts, or vandalism
- Strange thoughts, beliefs, feelings, or unusual behaviors
If problems persist over an extended period of time or if others involved in your child's life are concerned, please consider seeking a consultation with a child and adolescent psychiatrist or a trained mental health professional.
Where Can I Turn for Help and Information?
Dialing 211 will connect you to an operator who can provide you with referrals for individual counseling, alcohol/drug programs, parenting classes, and other community services in your area.
• Anxiety and Depressive Disorders
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
Bipolar Disorders Information Center
Bipolar Disorder Organization
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Freedom from Fear
Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, Inc.
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
National Resource Center for ADHD
• Chemical Dependency
Addiction Treatment Resource Directory
Al-Anon/Alateen
Alcoholics Anonymous
American Council for Drug Education
Cocaine Anonymous
Dual Recovery Anonymous
Gambler's Anonymous
Marijuana Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Salvation Army
Shields for Families
Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Domestic Violence Shelters
Alabama Domestic Violence Hotline 1-(800) 650-6522
The Lighthouse (A United Way Agency)
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-(800) 799-7233
Penelope House
• Eating Disorders
Academy of Eating Disorders
National Eating Disorders Association
• Education and Support Groups
Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center
Alabama Department of Human Resources
Alabama Healthy Marriage & Relationship Education Initiative
Alabama Judicial System
AlabamaLegalHelp.org
The Alliance for Children's Rights
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
Bipolar Disorders Information Center
Child Advocacy Center
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Children’s Bureau
Dating Abuse
Employee Assistance Program
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
HOPELINE (Suicide Prevention, Awareness and Education)
Independent Living Program (ILP)
Legal Services Alabama
Madison Institute of Medicine
Mental Help
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
National Center for Victims of Crime
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC)
National Institute of Mental Health
National Mental Health Association
National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
National Resource Center for ADHD
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-(800) 273-8255
Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, Inc.
Parents Medication Guide
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
U.S. National Library of Medicine
WebMD
World Federation for Mental Health
• Emergency Housing
Salvation Army 1-(800) 725-9005
• Psychiatric and Behavioral Disorders in Children and Adolescents
American Psychiatric Association
Center for Advancing Children's Mental Health (CACMH)
Kids Mental Health
U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health
• Public Assistance
Alabama Department of Public Health
Baldwin County Mental Health Center
DPSS 1-(877) 481-1044
Mobile County Health Department
Mobile County Housing Authority
Rent Assistance
Victims of Violent Crimes 1-(800) 777-9229
WIC Nutrition Program 1-(888) 942-4673
• Transportation
Access Paratransit 1-(800) 431-7882
Public Transit
• Other Useful Resources
Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Alabama Crime Victims' Compensation Commission
Arts Education Partnership
Child Find of America, Inc. (Missing and Abducted Children)
Childhelp: Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse
Domestic Violence Survival Kit 1-(800) 799-SAFE
The Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC)
Mental Health Resource Directory for Alabama
NaeA
National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence
National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-(800) 422-4453
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
National Runaway Safeline 1-(800) 786-2929
National Sex Offender Registry
USACops
The Whole Child
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
Bipolar Disorders Information Center
Bipolar Disorder Organization
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Freedom from Fear
Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, Inc.
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
National Resource Center for ADHD
• Chemical Dependency
Addiction Treatment Resource Directory
Al-Anon/Alateen
Alcoholics Anonymous
American Council for Drug Education
Cocaine Anonymous
Dual Recovery Anonymous
Gambler's Anonymous
Marijuana Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Salvation Army
Shields for Families
Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Domestic Violence Shelters
Alabama Domestic Violence Hotline 1-(800) 650-6522
The Lighthouse (A United Way Agency)
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-(800) 799-7233
Penelope House
• Eating Disorders
Academy of Eating Disorders
National Eating Disorders Association
• Education and Support Groups
Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center
Alabama Department of Human Resources
Alabama Healthy Marriage & Relationship Education Initiative
Alabama Judicial System
AlabamaLegalHelp.org
The Alliance for Children's Rights
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
Bipolar Disorders Information Center
Child Advocacy Center
Child Sexual Abuse
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Children’s Bureau
Dating Abuse
Employee Assistance Program
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
HOPELINE (Suicide Prevention, Awareness and Education)
Independent Living Program (ILP)
Legal Services Alabama
Madison Institute of Medicine
Mental Help
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
National Center for Victims of Crime
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC)
National Institute of Mental Health
National Mental Health Association
National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
National Resource Center for ADHD
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-(800) 273-8255
Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation, Inc.
Parents Medication Guide
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
U.S. National Library of Medicine
WebMD
World Federation for Mental Health
• Emergency Housing
Salvation Army 1-(800) 725-9005
• Psychiatric and Behavioral Disorders in Children and Adolescents
American Psychiatric Association
Center for Advancing Children's Mental Health (CACMH)
Kids Mental Health
U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health
• Public Assistance
Alabama Department of Public Health
Baldwin County Mental Health Center
DPSS 1-(877) 481-1044
Mobile County Health Department
Mobile County Housing Authority
Rent Assistance
Victims of Violent Crimes 1-(800) 777-9229
WIC Nutrition Program 1-(888) 942-4673
• Transportation
Access Paratransit 1-(800) 431-7882
Public Transit
• Other Useful Resources
Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Alabama Crime Victims' Compensation Commission
Arts Education Partnership
Child Find of America, Inc. (Missing and Abducted Children)
Childhelp: Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse
Domestic Violence Survival Kit 1-(800) 799-SAFE
The Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC)
Mental Health Resource Directory for Alabama
NaeA
National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence
National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-(800) 422-4453
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
National Runaway Safeline 1-(800) 786-2929
National Sex Offender Registry
USACops
The Whole Child
Books of Interest
All Through the Night
by Mae Robertson and Don Jackson
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
by Julia Cameron
Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential—and Endangered
by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz
Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao
by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Children Learn What They Live: Parenting to Inspire Values
by Dorothy Law Nolte and Rachel Harris
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
by Brene Brown
Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care
by Dr. Benjamin Spock and Dr. Michael B. Rothenberg
Every Day a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week
by Joel Osteen
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
by Don Miguel Ruiz
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Giving the Love That Heals: A Guide for Parents
by Harville Hendrix and Helen Hunt
I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are
by Howard Falco
Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century
by Howard Gardner
It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us
by First Lady Hillary Clinton
Journalution: Journaling to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life and Manifest Your Dreams
by Sandy Grason
Let Your Soul Sing: Enlightenment is for Everyone
by Ann Purcell
The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions
by Christopher K. Germer
Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation
by Daniel J. Siegel
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
by Thich Nhat Hanh
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
by Eckhart Tolle
Overcoming Negative Self-Image
by Neil T. Anderson, Dave Park
The Power of Awareness
by Neville Goddard
The Purpose Driven Life
by Rick Warren
A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles
by Marianne Williamson
Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind
by Kristin Neff
Simplify Your Life With Kids: 100 Ways to Make Family Life Easier and More Fun
by Elaine St. James
Taking Care of Your Child: A Parent's Illustrated Guide to Complete Medical Care
by Robert H. Pantell, M.D., Donald M. Vickery, M.D., and James Fries, M.D.
What to Expect the Toddler Years
by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathway, B.S.N.
by Mae Robertson and Don Jackson
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
by Julia Cameron
Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential—and Endangered
by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz
Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao
by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Children Learn What They Live: Parenting to Inspire Values
by Dorothy Law Nolte and Rachel Harris
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
by Brene Brown
Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care
by Dr. Benjamin Spock and Dr. Michael B. Rothenberg
Every Day a Friday: How to Be Happier 7 Days a Week
by Joel Osteen
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book)
by Don Miguel Ruiz
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Giving the Love That Heals: A Guide for Parents
by Harville Hendrix and Helen Hunt
I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are
by Howard Falco
Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century
by Howard Gardner
It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us
by First Lady Hillary Clinton
Journalution: Journaling to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life and Manifest Your Dreams
by Sandy Grason
Let Your Soul Sing: Enlightenment is for Everyone
by Ann Purcell
The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions
by Christopher K. Germer
Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation
by Daniel J. Siegel
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
by Thich Nhat Hanh
A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
by Eckhart Tolle
Overcoming Negative Self-Image
by Neil T. Anderson, Dave Park
The Power of Awareness
by Neville Goddard
The Purpose Driven Life
by Rick Warren
A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles
by Marianne Williamson
Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind
by Kristin Neff
Simplify Your Life With Kids: 100 Ways to Make Family Life Easier and More Fun
by Elaine St. James
Taking Care of Your Child: A Parent's Illustrated Guide to Complete Medical Care
by Robert H. Pantell, M.D., Donald M. Vickery, M.D., and James Fries, M.D.
What to Expect the Toddler Years
by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathway, B.S.N.
All information provided by Mettle Child, Inc. is for general knowledge only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or treatment. We cannot answer questions about specific medical conditions. We
strongly recommend that you contact your health care provider for any medical questions.