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2.01.2026

Supporting Big Feelings: How the Pyramid Model Family Support Services Help Nevada Families Thrive

Young children experience big feelings as they learn to communicate, build relationships, and navigate the world around them. While these moments are a natural part of development, some families face ongoing behavioral challenges that can feel overwhelming without support.

Nevada’s early childhood system offers programs that help families and providers address these needs early, strengthening children’s social-emotional skills and promoting success at home and in early learning environments.

One of these programs is the Pyramid Model Family Support Services, offered by The Children’s Cabinet. This program provides free consultation, home visiting, coaching, and training to support young children under age six who experience persistent challenging behavior.

By focusing on early intervention and relationship-based strategies, the Pyramid Model helps families and early learning professionals build strong foundations for children’s lifelong learning and well-being.

What Is the Pyramid Model?

The Pyramid Model is an evidence-based framework designed to support social-emotional development and reduce challenging behavior in young children. It focuses on helping adults—parents, caregivers, teachers, and early childhood professionals—understand children’s emotions and respond with effective, supportive strategies.

In Nevada, the Nevada Pyramid Model Partnership provides services statewide to families with young children under age 6, as well as teachers, child care providers, and schools. These services help build children’s emotional skills, such as communication, self-regulation, and problem-solving, while creating consistent and nurturing environments.

The Children’s Cabinet offers Pyramid Model services to families who are concerned about their child’s behavior and are seeking guidance on how to support success at home and school.

Supporting Families with Young Children

Families who experience persistent challenging behavior with their young children can access free family support services through the Pyramid Model. After a referral is submitted, a trained Family Specialist partners with the family to better understand their child’s needs.

Support may include completing a social-emotional screening tool, identifying strengths and challenges, and creating individualized behavior goals. Families receive practical strategies that fit naturally into daily routines and help children develop positive social-emotional skills.

Some families may qualify for home visiting services, depending on their level of need. Through home visiting, Parent Partners work directly with families in their own environment to model strategies, strengthen parent-child relationships, and build confidence in addressing challenging behavior.

Over the past year, Parent Partners provided more than 400 home visits statewide, supporting families in strengthening skills and reducing stress.

Support for Teachers, Providers, and Schools

The Pyramid Model also supports early learning professionals across Nevada. Teachers working in early childhood classrooms can receive short-term coaching that offers immediate strategies for addressing challenging behavior and teaching social-emotional skills.

For programs seeking long-term support, schools and child care providers can participate as Pyramid Model implementation sites, where all classrooms work together toward quality improvement. Currently, 19 center-based schools and six family child care providers statewide participate in the implementation of the Pyramid Model, receiving ongoing guidance to strengthen classroom practices and create consistent, supportive environments for children.

These efforts help providers feel prepared and supported while improving outcomes for the children and families they serve.

Training and Professional Development

Education and training are key components of the Pyramid Model. The Children’s Cabinet offers more than 50 free trainings each year for families, teachers, and early learning professionals. These trainings focus on understanding children’s social-emotional development, preventing challenging behavior, and building positive relationships.

Introductory and advanced sessions are available throughout the year, including trainings designed for QRIS programs and early childhood providers. These learning opportunities help adults build confidence, expand skills, and apply consistent strategies across home and classroom settings.

Why Social-Emotional Development Matters

The first five years of life are a critical period for social-emotional development. During this time, children learn how to express emotions, manage frustration, build relationships, and feel safe in their environments. When these skills are supported early, children are better prepared for school and future learning.

The Pyramid Model focuses on teaching skills rather than reacting to behavior. By supporting both children and the adults who care for them, the program helps reduce challenging behavior while promoting emotional growth, confidence, and connection.

Early support can make a lasting difference—not only for children, but for families, classrooms, and communities across Nevada.

Accessing Pyramid Model Family Support Services

Families who are concerned about their child’s behavior can request Pyramid Model Family Support Services by completing the referral form: Nevada Pyramid Model Partnership: Request for Support

Once a referral is submitted, a member of the Pyramid Model team will follow up to discuss available supports and next steps.

Conclusion

The Pyramid Model Family Support Services play an important role in Nevada’s early childhood system by providing free, evidence-based support to families, teachers, and early learning programs. Through consultation, home visiting, coaching, and training, the program helps young children build strong social-emotional skills and reduces persistent challenging behavior.

By supporting adults and children together, the Pyramid Model strengthens families, improves early learning environments, and helps ensure Nevada’s youngest children have the tools they need to thrive.