The more experts learn about mental health, the more they say how important it is to work on problems when they start — even if that means sending a toddler to a psychiatrist.

        The potential benefit of early treatment was a central theme of Clermont County's first early childhood mental health conference, a two-day event that concluded Friday and attracted about 200 child care workers, social workers, psychologists and others to the Holiday Inn Eastgate.

        “This conference is about disseminating information. There's a big gap between professional knowledge and caregivers working with children every day,” said Jim Carter, chief executive of Child Focus Inc., a co-sponsor of the event.

        The conference topics included spotting preschool children at risk of failing in later grades; working with families of troubled children; dealing with autism and child abuse; and how to deal with infants who aren't eating or sleeping well.

        In recent years, new science about brain development has underscored the importance of the preschool years in speech development, learning skills and other factors, Mr. Carter said.

        Meanwhile, other studies have documented that early intervention can make a difference for families of troubled children.

        The Clermont County conference was funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health as part of a statewide initiative on childhood mental health.

        “Children have not been a focus of mental health services in the past. But we are hoping that the Department of Mental Health will pay more attention and provide more funding for very young children,” said Karen Sherra, executive director of the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

        On Thursday, Dr. Ron Bramlett, a child psychologist from the University of Central Arkansas, spent two hours discussing ideas for helping troubled children fare better in school.

        While studies indicate all sorts of approaches can help, few have solved the challenge of reaching the neediest families. Some of the same factors contributing to childhood emotional or behavioral problems — neglect, abuse, lack of education, poverty, and others — also make it hard for children to get professional support.

        “The kids who really need the most help often are the ones who get the least,” Dr. Bramlett said.

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