HOT DOCS (Helping Our Toddlers; Developing Our Children's Skills)

Negative behaviors such as whining and tantrums are very common during the toddler and preschool years, and if left unaddressed, will compromise healthy development including social and emotional development and school readiness (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2002). Children with special needs and disabilities are at even greater risk for such problems, which further impedes their development. Caregivers may not understand why their children act as they do, and become frustrated in their attempts to discipline, thus emphasizing the importance of parent training.

The HOT DOCS program offers caregivers a problem-solving approach towards understanding children's needs and solving everyday behavior problems. The program uses proactive behavioral principles and positive behavior supports. Over the course of seven weeks, caregivers come to understand what may be underlying behavior problems, how children learn, and what solutions will work best with their child. HOT DOCS coaches assist each family in developing and implementing an individualized support plan to improve their children's behavior by teaching them new skills. Caregivers who have completed HOT DOCS training report gains in both their confidence and competency as a result of this experience.

HOT DOCS classes are available in both English and Spanish, and are offered several times a year at various sites in the community, including our USF site located in the Children's Medical Services (CMS) building. HOT DOCS has been recognized as an outstanding community resource, and has received awards from Early Steps, Early Childhood Council, and the Hispanic Heritage Committee. HOT DOCS is funded by the Children's Board of Hillsborough County. For more information about this program, call us at 974-1189.

This project is funded by The Children's Board of Hillsborough County

Downloads:

Brochures

Presentations

Presented at "Every Moment Matters" hosted by the Early Childhood Council in Collaboration with the Florida Association of Mental Health, Tampa FL, November 18-20, 2009

Adaptation of HOTDOCS to HOTDOCS Espanol

Presented at 2008 Annual Conference Florida Association of Infant Mental Health Jacksonville, FL May 15-16, 2008