Upcoming Trainings and Events.
Please click events on the calendar to learn more information and to access registration links.
Early Registration is LIVE for our Annual Conference!
Our Way of Being: Connecting the Dots
To increase access to competency-informed trainings, the Alliance developed an online site as a resource for AIMHs and the workforce. The goal is for this site to serve as a ‘one-stop-shop’ resource for AIMHs and the workforce. The site features asynchronous trainings, webinars, in-person options from a variety of AIMHs. The site will be updated on a quarterly basis, so be sure to check back regularly! If you would like a training to be featured, please complete the form found HERE.
All are welcome to use the training hub site as a way to find resourceful trainings! Please be sure to view and share the training hub site. For more information, please email kjackson@allianceaimh.org or kdieffenbaugher@allianceaimh.org.
Childcare and Development Fund (CCDF) Partners Training and Events
Please click any of the logos below for access to all of our partners’ trainings and events.
Handle With Care: Tennessee Statewide Initiative
Title: Handle with Care: Tennessee Statewide Initiative
Date: April 30th, 2024
Time: 10am - 11am CST/11am - 12pm EST
Description: Handle with Care is a simple and effective program that allows first responders to quickly send a notification to school districts advising them when and if a child was present at an incident that involved a call for service to provide services as needed. This presentation will cover the importance and impact the initiative for children in the school system.
Training Objectives:
Provide information to improve students’ understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's) and PCE’s.
Learn to identify traumatic events involving children and understand the impacts of these traumatic events on children and trauma-informed approach.
Provide general information about Handle With Care (HWC).
Guidelines for Law Enforcement/ School Districts/Community Agencies for Handle With Care Program.
Presenter(s): Evangeline Watanabe
Evangeline Watanabe began her role as Statewide Handle with Care Coordinator in March 2022. She completed her undergraduate education at Covenant College in Economic Community Development in 2012. She has a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Tennessee with a concentration in organizational leadership. She also has earned certificates in Human Services Management, which is a graduate-level certification from the Network for Social Work Management and Supporting Students Exposed to Trauma from the 3C Institute. Evangeline’s work experience has ranged from case management to policy and procedure development for both corporate entities and non-profit organizations. Beginning in late 2020, she developed a trauma-informed program for children ages 8-13 with Dream Streets, a local non-profit, that collaborates weekly with the West Nashville Police Precinct’s Community Engagement team. Both her educational background and work experience have her expertly positioned to develop frameworks and structures for the Handle with Care program to be implemented statewide.
The Power of Nurturing Touch
Title: The Power of Nurturing Touch
Date: May 7th, 2024
Time: 10:00am - 12:30pm CST/ 11:00am- 1:30pm EST
Location: The Biz Foundry
114 N Cedar Ave. Cookeville, TN 38501
Description:
Through education, labor support, and beyond, Doulas and birth workers have a significant and meaningful lifetime influence on families. The Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee invites Doulas and birth workers across Tennessee to join us as we discuss the impact of early touch and infant massage on parental bonding and attachment.
This event is in-person only.
Drinks, Snacks, and door prizes will be provided!
Parking is free directly past the building on the left and on the streets. The parking lot before the building on the left is paid parking. Please take note and park in the free areas.
Presenter(s):
Laura Thorn, IMH-E
Kristin Williams, BS, IECMH-E
Denise McDrummond, M.Ed, IMH-E, Certified Educator of Infant Massage
Denise McDrummond is the Endorsement Coordinator for the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee. She holds both a Bachelor and Master of Education and is Endorsed in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health as well as a Certified Educator of Infant Massage. Denise provides Reflective Supervision and training opportunities through the Tennessee Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants Collective. For her part, Denise also spends time with parents locally in Tennessee helping to build nurturing communities through Infant Massage. With 20+ years in the field, her passion remains ensuring that all children and families have the support and resources they need to reach their full potential.
Endorsement 101
Endorsement 101
May 7th, 2024
5:00pm CST/ 6:00pm EST
This is an introductory session tailored toward those interested in applying for Infant Mental Health Endorsement® or the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®. Participants will learn more about the categories of Endorsement, requirements for each category, and the process for applying for Endorsement in Tennessee. Time will be provided for specific questions and discussion.
Presenters: Denise McDrummond, Kristin Williams, and Laura Thorn
Continuing the Conversation: "Reflections on Ways of Meanings"
Title: Continuing the Conversation, "Reflections on Ways of Meaning"
Date: May 9th, 2024
Time: 11am - 12pm CST/12pm - 1pm EST
Description:
Featuring a second part to continue our conversation around Reflective Practice through our AIMHiTN 2024 Ways of Being: Connecting the Dots Conference presentation by Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IECMH®.
We all deepen our understanding and the practice of reflection by integrating and aligning what we learn about ourselves, our work, and our communities. Together today, we will pause to wonder what makes our reflective practice unique to each one of us, to our communities, and to our state. We gather strength from robust connections: some are evident, and some are unnoticed because they are the familiar fabric of a culture. What can we learn about how we make meaning of our work as we become more reflective about our similarities and differences?
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
● Review foundational tenets of Reflective Practice.
● Consider our social and professional contexts.
● Engage via a web-based interactive platform to share those contexts.
● Practice reflecting on professional communication within and between contexts.
Presenter(s):
Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IECMH®
Joaniko Kohchi, MPhil, LCSW, IECMH-E® is the Director of the Institute for Parenting and Postgraduate Programs in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at Adelphi University, where she enjoys teaching and supervising graduate and postgraduate students as well as clinicians in the community. She is an endorsed Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health MentorⓇ with clinical, academic, and nonprofit experience spanning several regions of the United States. Her clinical work focuses on children and families who have survived traumatic events often leading to out-of-home care and court involvement. She is a trainer of Child-Parent Psychotherapy and a facilitator for the Diversity Informed Tenets for Work with Infants, Children and Families as well as for Circle of Security ParentingTM. Ms. Kohchi frequently provides training and consultation in reflective supervision for community organizations as well as professional collectives. She has served as a volunteer and officer of infant mental health initiatives in several states, and continues this work with the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health.
Classroom Inclusion: Widening our Circles
Title: Classroom Inclusion, Widening our Circles
Date: May 10th, 2024
Time: 4:30pm- 5:30pm CST/ 5:30pm- 6:30pm EST
Description:
As childcare educators we often ask ourselves: are we creating spaces of belonging? Are we providing more than just access to our classroom environment and toys that address a variety of learning levels? How do we do this? Inclusion simply means we all belong, and that there is a safe space for every child to grow and learn. Inclusion is not a place, but a way of being. Join us as we explore one vital ingredient that makes inclusion work.
Presenter(s):
Janet Parks, M.Ed., Early Interventionist.
Janet Parks has served more than thirty years and in a variety of roles in the field of early childhood and early childhood exceptional education. She currently serves as a Developmental Therapist at Siskin Children’s Institute providing support and collaborative consultations with families and community-based teachers. Her focus is early intervention and developing relationships and connections with both children and families to support growth, development, and community participation.
Family Training Series: Touch Attachment: Infant Massage, Communicating Love through Touch
Title: Touch Attachment: Infant Massage, Communicating Love through Touch
Date: May 14th, 2024
Time: 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST/ 6:00pm - 7:00pm EST
Description: The single most crucial ingredient in laying a healthy foundation for children is caring, nurturing relationships. For babies, this foundation develops as caregivers and parents build bonds and attachment. Caregivers are a baby’s first teacher, from initial communication skills and sweet coos to little fingers reaching for their mother’s dinner plate. Each part of the journey is remarkable and carves a special place in a caregiver’s heart. AIMHiTN strives to assist caregivers and families as they begin this journey, presenting a supportive collective of four trainings specifically targeting how caregivers can thrive in their pivotal role of bonding and attachment. Bonding with an infant is developed through consistent interactions from those that are most important around them: mothers, fathers, siblings, and caregivers alike. After this bond is strengthened, attachment wraps a baby in security and warmth, through an infant’s first two love languages: touch and feeding. To a newborn baby, there is nothing better than snuggling, being held during feedings, and sleeping in a parent’s arms. But did you know there is another, more intentional way to connect with baby through loving touch? Infant massage promotes both physical and psychosocial benefits for babies. Join us to learn about the benefits of infant massage, and a few techniques to help you get started through this third training in the Family Training Series.
Presenter(s): Denise McDrummond, M.E.d, IMH-E®, Certified Educator of Infant Massage
Emergency Preparedness Toolkit: An Early Relational Approach for Child Welfare Professionals
Title: Emergency Response Toolkit: An Early Relational Approach for Child Welfare Professionals
Date: May 15th, 2024
Time: 12:00pm CST/ 1:00pm EST
Presenter: Katie Woodard, BS, IMH-E®
Description: Introduction to AIMHiTN new Emergency Response Toolkit: Child Welfare Professional Edition. The toolkit is designed to help child welfare professionals understand the social emotional impact of disasters on families. While also providing early relational techniques for helping caregivers create comprehensive emergency response plans. We will provide guidance on how to utilize the toolkit to work with families on preparing, responding, and recovering from emergency events. This includes natural disasters, but also tools for responding to events such as gun violence or grieving.
Please reference the Emergency Response Toolkit link below for a free download of the toolkit.
https://www.aimhitn.org/emergency-preparedness
Coffee, Culture, & Connection | Café, Cultura y Conexión
Coffee, Culture and Connection: A brave place to connect, collaborate, and chat over coffee |
Café, Cultura y Conexión
Date: May 17th, 2024
Time: 10:00am- 11:30am CST/ 11:00- 12:30pm EST
Description:
This is a space for community, learning, and collaboration for IECMH professionals to discuss topics related to belonging, cultural responsiveness, and inclusion for children and families with differing abilities.
We will kick off this series and will be joined by Veronica Rosa, of our national partner, the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, and Zacnite Vargas Avalos with the Davidson County Health Department to discuss how we can enhance our support and resources for Latino IECMH professionals and families in Tennessee.
Cultivating Well-Being in Relationships
Title: Cultivating Well-Being in Relationships
Date: May 24th, 2024
Time: 9am - 10:30am CST/10am - 11:30am EST
Description:
Relationships play a crucial role in both our personal and professional lives on a daily basis. Nurturing healthy and positive relationships necessitates creating an environment that fosters honesty, compassion, and empathy. This training session will delve into the dynamics of being attuned or unattuned within relationships. Additionally, we will discuss strategies for effectively navigating the process of repairing a relationship following a rupture. This framework proves beneficial not only in professional interactions with clients, families, and colleagues but also in personal relationships.
Presenter(s):
Kristin Dunn, MS, CTRS, IECMH-E®
STARS: Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training Day One
Title: STARS: Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training
Date: May 30th & June 6th, 2024, virtual
Time: 8:30am- 3:30pm CST/ 9:30am - 4:30pm EST
Description:
We are thrilled to have you join us for the Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training!
This is a training for Child Welfare workers and Foster Parents that supports the reflective capacity of professionals working with caregivers and families. Facilitating Attuned Interactions is a model from the Erikson Institute that promotes self-awareness of providers and increased attunement to caregivers that results in improved professional/parent relationships and improved service recipient outcomes. FAN has been a core framework for pediatricians, mental health clinicians, home visitors, and child welfare professionals across the US. The model emphasizes slowing down interactions with service recipients to increase focus on relationships, which has been shown through research to decrease the amount of time for families to reach their identified goals. FAN is a huge asset to a number of TN's workforce sectors, and we're so excited to bring this opportunity to child welfare.
*Both days (2) must be attended to complete the training. You must register for both days separately.
Presenter(s): Alison D. Peak & Kristin Dunn
Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Title: Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Date: May 31st, 2024
Time: 9am CST/ 10am EST
Presenters: Flor Abarca and Veronica Rosa-Sandoval
Description: Información sobre el endoso para profesionales de la infancia y la niñez temprana.
Family Training Series: Feeding Attachment: Nurturing Attachment Through Every Bite
Title: Feeding Attachment: Nurturing Attachment Through Every Bite
Date: June 4th, 2024
Time: 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST/ 6:00pm - 7:00pm EST
Description:
The single most crucial ingredient in laying a healthy foundation for children is caring, nurturing relationships. For babies, this foundation develops as caregivers and parents build bonds and attachment. Caregivers are a baby’s first teacher, from initial communication skills and sweet coos to little fingers reaching for their mother’s dinner plate. Each part of the journey is remarkable and carves a special place in a caregiver’s heart. AIMHiTN strives to assist caregivers and families as they begin this journey, presenting a supportive collective of four trainings specifically targeting how caregivers can thrive in their pivotal role of bonding and attachment. Bonding with an infant is developed through consistent interactions from those that are most important around them: mothers, fathers, siblings, and caregivers alike. After this bond is strengthened, attachment wraps a baby in security and warmth, through an infant’s first two love languages: touch and feeding.
In this fourth and final training under the Family Training Series, we explore how feeding is more than just sustenance—it’s a powerful tool for building strong emotional connections between caregivers and infants. Whether through nursing, bottle feeding, or feeding tubes, the act of feeding fosters deep attachment bonds. This presentation delves into practical tips and tricks for caregivers to maximize feeding time as an opportunity for bonding not only between mother and baby but also among siblings and fathers. Discover how simple yet meaningful interactions during feeding can shape lifelong attachments and promote healthy family dynamics.
Presenter(s): Crystal Gilreath, M.S., IBCLC, IMH-E®, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
STARS: Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training Day Two
Title: STARS: Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training
Date: May 30th & June 6th, 2024, virtual
Time: 8:30am- 3:30pm CST/ 9:30am - 4:30pm EST
Description:
We are thrilled to have you join us for the Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training!
This is a training for Child Welfare workers and Foster Parents that supports the reflective capacity of professionals working with caregivers and families. Facilitating Attuned Interactions is a model from the Erikson Institute that promotes self-awareness of providers and increased attunement to caregivers that results in improved professional/parent relationships and improved service recipient outcomes. FAN has been a core framework for pediatricians, mental health clinicians, home visitors, and child welfare professionals across the US. The model emphasizes slowing down interactions with service recipients to increase focus on relationships, which has been shown through research to decrease the amount of time for families to reach their identified goals. FAN is a huge asset to a number of TN's workforce sectors, and we're so excited to bring this opportunity to child welfare.
*Both days (2) must be attended to complete the training. You must register for both days separately.
Presenter(s): Alison D. Peak & Kristin Dunn
Emergency Preparedness Toolkit: An Early Relational Approach for Child Welfare Professionals
Title: Emergency Response Toolkit: An Early Relational Approach for Child Welfare Professionals
Date: June 12th, 2024
Time: 12:00pm CST/ 1:00pm EST
Presenter: Katie Woodard, BS, IMH-E®
Description: Introduction to AIMHiTN new Emergency Response Toolkit: Child Welfare Professional Edition. The toolkit is designed to help child welfare professionals understand the social emotional impact of disasters on families. While also providing early relational techniques for helping caregivers create comprehensive emergency response plans. We will provide guidance on how to utilize the toolkit to work with families on preparing, responding, and recovering from emergency events. This includes natural disasters, but also tools for responding to events such as gun violence or grieving.
Please reference the Emergency Response Toolkit link below for a free download of the toolkit.
https://www.aimhitn.org/emergency-preparedness
Endorsement 101
Endorsement 101
June 13th, 2024
11am CST/ 12pm EST
This is an introductory session tailored toward those interested in applying for Infant Mental Health Endorsement® or the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®. Participants will learn more about the categories of Endorsement, requirements for each category, and the process for applying for Endorsement in Tennessee. Time will be provided for specific questions and discussion.
Presenters: Denise McDrummond, Kristin Williams, and Laura Thorn
Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Title: Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Date: June 28th, 2024
Time: 1pm CST/ 2pm EST
Presenters: Flor Abarca and Veronica Rosa-Sandoval
Description: Información sobre el endoso para profesionales de la infancia y la niñez temprana.
Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Title: Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Date: July 19th, 2024
Time: 9am CST/ 10am EST
Presenters: Flor Abarca and Veronica Rosa-Sandoval
Description: Información sobre el endoso para profesionales de la infancia y la niñez temprana.
Family Training Series: Belonging Begins at Home, Building Attachment within the Family
Title: Belonging Begins at Home: Building Attachment within the Family
Date: April 25th, 2024
Time: 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST/ 6:00pm - 7:00pm EST
Description:
The single most crucial ingredient in laying a healthy foundation for children is caring, nurturing relationships. For babies, this foundation develops as caregivers and parents build bonds and attachment. Caregivers are a baby’s first teacher, from initial communication skills and sweet coos to little fingers reaching for their mother’s dinner plate. Each part of the journey is remarkable and carves a special place in a caregiver’s heart. AIMHiTN strives to assist caregivers and families as they begin this journey, presenting a supportive collective of four trainings specifically targeting how caregivers can thrive in their pivotal role of bonding and attachment. Bonding with an infant is developed through consistent interactions from those that are most important around them: mothers, fathers, siblings, and caregivers alike. After this bond is strengthened, attachment wraps a baby in security and warmth, through an infant’s first two love languages: touch and feeding. This second training serves to identify the Father's role in a child's relationship, as well as create a place of belonging for each family member that assists in developing attachment with a new infant in the family. The training will identify how family's can be involved in the infant's early days of developing attachment and how mother's can support in creating opportunities for this attachment to grow.
Presenter(s): Kristin Dunn, MS, CTRS, IECMH-E®
Emergency Preparedness Toolkit: An Early Relational Approach for Child Welfare Professionals
Title: Emergency Response Toolkit: An Early Relational Approach for Child Welfare Professionals
Date: April 24th, 2024
Time: 12:00pm CST/ 1:00pm EST
Presenter: Katie Woodard, BS, IMH-E®
Description: Introduction to AIMHiTN new Emergency Response Toolkit: Child Welfare Professional Edition. The toolkit is designed to help child welfare professionals understand the social emotional impact of disasters on families. While also providing early relational techniques for helping caregivers create comprehensive emergency response plans. We will provide guidance on how to utilize the toolkit to work with families on preparing, responding, and recovering from emergency events. This includes natural disasters, but also tools for responding to events such as gun violence or grieving.
Please reference the Emergency Response Toolkit link below for a free download of the toolkit.
https://www.aimhitn.org/emergency-preparedness
Music Therapy as an Adjunctive Role in Child Development
Title: Music Therapy as an Adjunctive Role in Child Development
Date: April 19th, 2024
Time: 9am - 11am CST/10am - 12pm EST
Description:
From the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to the preschool classroom, music therapy has a powerful impact on the neurological growth and maturation of a child. A single evidence-based music therapy intervention can elicit the use of multiple skills that include sensory, emotional, physical, and social skills at once. This 2-hour training will provided an introduction to the clinical practice of music therapy where participants will be able to 1) define the profession of music therapy and qualifications of a boardcertified music therapist (MT-BC), 2) understand the role of a MT-BC within the interdisciplinary team, 3) describe goals and evidence-based interventions that align with desired clinical outcomes for children birth to five years of age, 3) apply therapeutic applications of music to client outcomes within one’s own practice, and 4) identify resources and referring agents for music therapy.
Presenter(s):
Katherine Goforth Elverd, MM, LPMT, MT-BC
Endorsement 101
Endorsement 101
April 18th, 2024
12:00pm- 1:00pm CST/1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
This is an introductory session tailored toward those interested in applying for Infant Mental Health Endorsement® or the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®. Participants will learn more about the categories of Endorsement, requirements for each category, and the process for applying for Endorsement in Tennessee. Time will be provided for specific questions and discussion.
Presenters: Denise McDrummond, Kristin Williams, and Laura Thorn
Emergency Response Toolkit: Recovering, Resiliency, and Relationships (3/3)
Title: Emergency Response Toolkit: Recovering, resiliency, and relationships
Date: April 17th, 2024
Time: 12pm CST/ 1pm EST
Description: Emergency Response Toolkit, Recovering, resiliency, and relationships is a three-part series. This training will be part three of three, digging deeper into AIMHiTN's Emergency Response Toolkit. This training will focus on the third pillar, Recovery, of the toolkit. The training will highlight recovery in a supportive and developmentally appropriate way when working with infants, children, and families in the mental health space. Professionals will discuss how to support themselves and the caregivers in recovering from an emergency or disaster.
Please reference the Emergency Response Toolkit link below for a free download of the toolkit: https://www.aimhitn.org/emergency-preparedness
Presenter: Katie Woodard, BS, IMH-E®
Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Title: Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Date: April 12th, 2024
Time: 2:00pm CST/ 3:00pm EST
Presenters: Flor Abarca and Veronica Rosa-Sandoval
Description: Información sobre el endoso para profesionales de la infancia y la niñez temprana.
Supporting Early Childhood Development Using a Trauma Informed Approach
Title: Supporting Early Childhood Development Using a Trauma Informed Approach
Date: April 5th, 2024
Time: 9am - 10am CST/10am - 11am EST
Description:
Children who suffer from child traumatic stress are those who have been exposed to one or more traumas over the course of their lives and develop lingering effects that persist and affect them daily even after the events have ended. Infant and toddler caregivers as well as educators can support young children who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trauma through a trauma-responsive, healing centered approach. This approach recognizes and responds by increasing trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills and how to incorporate these into programming and policies.
Presenter(s):
Becky Haas
Becky Haas is an international advocate and trainer on using a trauma informed approach and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study. She is a pioneer in creating trauma informed communities. Work she led in Northeast Tennessee was recognized by SAMHSA in 2018 as a model for cities to follow. Becky authors sector specific professional development trainings with two receiving statewide accreditation as evidence-based training and one national accreditation. She is uniquely distinguished for her work with police officers and justice system professionals.
Endorsement Exam Informational Session
Title: Endorsement Exam Informational Session
Date: Friday March 29, 2024
Time: 9:30am-11:30amCST//10:30am-12:30pm EST
Presenters: Jenn Drake-Croft, MSSW, IMH-E®
Description:
Have you ever considered applying for the Mental Health Specialist or Mental Health Mentor pathways to Endorsement and wondered if it was for you? Have you talked yourself out of applying because there is an exam requirement? AIMHiTN wants to answer your questions about these Endorsement pathways. Our hope is to provide you with as much support as possible for you to be successful on the exam. So, please join us for an information and discussion session led by Jenn Drake-Croft.
Biography:
Jennifer Drake-Croft, MSSW, IMH-E®, is the Project Director of the Infant and Early Childhood (IECMH) Technical Assistance Center at Georgetown University and a Faculty Director for the Georgetown Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Certificate Program. Sitting on multiple state and national committees, Jennifer has helped lead and shape macro-level initiatives and policies to promote healthy child development, advance Infant and Early Childhood (IECMH) practices, prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and support resilient communities. Jennifer currently oversees the strategy and operations of the IECMH Technical Assistance Center which supports 48 SAMHSA-funded grantees across the United States in their efforts to advance policies, programs, and practices for very young children. Jennifer was a founding member of All Children Excel (ACE) Nashville, a 400-member collective impact initiative seeking to reduce ACEs and promote resilience at the population level using a public health approach. Jennifer led the development of the Building Strong Brains Tennessee “training for trainers” curriculum focused on brain development, ACEs, and strategies to foster resilience. To date, over 1,200 diverse-sector individuals have become Building Strong Brains trainers across Tennessee. These trainers have presented to more than 80,000 individuals. In addition to her current work at Georgetown University, Jennifer provides Reflective Supervision/Consultation to the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN) staff, supports IECMH Endorsement® as the AIMHiTN Exam Handler, and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tennessee's College of Social Work Masters Program. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Berry College, a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee, received Endorsement® as both an Infant Mental Health Mentor and an Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor in Policy, and has expertise in child development, child trauma, and child abuse prevention. Jennifer was a member of the 2017 Nashville Emerging Leaders Class, received the 2017 Nashville Emerging Leaders Award for the Government and Public Affairs Category, and was named one of the University of Tennessee’s “40 under 40” in 2021. Jennifer’s personal and professional passion is to partner with communities and systems in advancing policies and practices which support all children to thrive.
Registration opens on February 16, 2024
TN IECMH ECHO: Supporting Early Parenting Series
Title: Supporting Early Childhood
Date: March 27th, 2024
Time: 2:00pm CST/ 3:00pm EST
Details on individual sessions may be viewed on the ECHO platform.
Policy and Advocacy are Not a Mystery: Anyone Can Change Systems!
Title: Policy and Advocacy are Not a Mystery: Anyone Can Change Systems!
Date: March 26th, 2024
Time: 10am - 12pm CST/11am - 1pm EST
Description:
Have you ever wanted to change systems and participate in policy and advocacy but don’t know how? Direct practitioners and families need to know more about policy and advocacy and policy/systems folks need to know more about direct practice and the wants and needs of children and families. This session explains advocacy and policy, highlighting examples from perspectives from all levels: systems, programmatic, and individual. Anyone can ensure that awareness is raised about the critical issues important in our communities.
Presenter(s):
Allison Lowe-Fotos, MSW, LCSW
Allison is a Policy Manager with Start Early, working on issues related to mental health, home visiting, child welfare, and families impacted by the criminal legal system. She has been an adjunct professor with the Erikson Institute since 2020 and has previously worked in direct practice in early childhood education programs. She has international experience working in programs and projects in China, Mexico, and Turkey. Allison has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.S.W. from Loyola University Chicago, and is credentialed in Infant Mental Health.
Mayor Diana Merdian, MAEd
Diana's background is in Community Systems, with a Master's in Education specializing in Family and Community Services. She is the Family Education and Support Services Program Coordinator, Community/Data Systems Manager for the IRIS referral system, and an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant with the Regional Office of Education #47. She has been an active parent within her local Parents As Teachers Home Visiting program for three years. In May 2023, she was elected as Mayor of her hometown with a platform of supporting families, Early Childhood Education, and allowing young Hispanic women to see themselves within leadership positions.
Mykela Collins, B.S.
Mykela has been advocating for children since her own daughter was a tiny tot in an early Head Start program. She is the proud mother of two children. Mykela’s number one priority in life is ensuring a quality education for her children and advocating for systemic change in early care and education. As a fierce parent advocate, Mykela has an impressive track record of parent leadership in the Early Care and Education arena including: Parent Ambassador & Board Member (IL Head Start Association, 2020-current); Parent Ambassador for CCAC (Child Care Assistance Council, 2021-current); and Raising IL Family Leader (current); Co-Chair for Right To Chair Campaign(We the Village, 2022-current).
Court Appointed Special Advocates: Being a Voice for Children in Courts
Title: Court Appointed Special Advocates: Being a Voice for Children in Courts
Date: March 22nd, 2024
Time: 10:00am- 11:30amCST//11:00am- 12:30pmEST
Speakers: Wendy Jill Spence, TN CASA Director of Professional Development & Lynne Farrar, TN CASA Executive Director
Description:
We are very excited for CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates in TN, to join us this month as we focus on Child Advocacy Month. The training will discuss the mission of CASA from the local level, through the state and national network. They will explore CASA's role in the child welfare system, discuss a child's journey through placement, what makes their role important in the bigger picture, and how they hold and support children and families in their own unique way. The session will include Q & A time with panelists from a local CASA program, focusing on different sectors and prespectives, as well as promotion of dialogue and connection between professionals. Participants will hear from panelists who have experience working within the child and family team and discuss how CASA makes a difference for infants involved in Safe Baby Court.
Panel Moderator: Kassie Davis, Executive Director, CASA of Rutherford County and TN CASA Board Member
- Panel to include a CASA volunteer and other individuals serving unique roles within the child and family team.
TN IECMH ECHO: Supporting Early Parenting Series
Title: Supporting Early Childhood
Date: March 19th, 2024
Time: 11:30am CST/ 12:30pm EST
Details on individual sessions may be viewed on the ECHO platform.
Stories from the Field: FInding Your Neurodivergent Voice in a Neurotypical World
Title: Stories from the Field: FInding Your Neurodivergent Voice in a Neurotypical World
Date: March 15th, 2024
Time: 9:30am - 10:30am CST/10:30am - 11:30am EST
Description: Join us as we connect and encourage parents with Danielle Preston, a parent, advocate for her own children, and a mother of super powers. Daniella has been married to her high-school sweet heart for ten years and together they have three beautiful children. They are what you would call a neurodivergent family with two children with special needs. Her oldest, Owen, was diagnosed with Nonverbal Autism seven years ago and their middle son, Troy, was diagnosed with Combined Type ADHD a year ago. Danielle has her degree in Education and furthered her professional development as she taught both typical and non-typical students for over a decade. Danielle has had the opportunity to lead and be lead by some amazing special needs parents on her amazing journey of life. She looks forward to sharing what had worked for her children and family over the years as she navigated finding her voice in a Nerotypical world. Danielle will share how finding her own voice impacted herself, her children, and family, while enouraging us to all find our own voice in our everyday lives.
Presenter(s): Danielle Preston
TN IECMH ECHO: Supporting Early Parenting Series
Title: Supporting Early Childhood
Date: March 11th, 2024
Time: 10:00am CST/ 11:00am EST
Details on individual sessions may be viewed on the ECHO platform.
Endorsement 101
Endorsement 101
March 7th, 2024
1:00pm- 2:00pm CST/2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
This is an introductory session tailored toward those interested in applying for Infant Mental Health Endorsement® or the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®. Participants will learn more about the categories of Endorsement, requirements for each category, and the process for applying for Endorsement in Tennessee. Time will be provided for specific questions and discussion.
Presenters: Denise McDrummond, Kristin Williams, and Laura Thorn
Emergency Preparedness Toolkit: Responding for Results (Part 2)
Title: Emergency Response Toolkit: Responding for Results (Part 2)
Date: Feb 21st, 2024
Time: 12:00pm CST/ 1:00pm EST
Presenter: Katie Woodard, BS, IMH-E®
Description:
Description:
Emergency Response Toolkit: Responding for Results is a three-part series. This training will be part two of three, digging deeper into AIMHiTN's Emergency Response Toolkit. This training will focus on the second pillar, Respond, of the toolkit. The training will highlight responding in a supportive and developmentally appropriate way when working with infants, children, and families in the mental health space. Professionals will discuss pragmatic tools on identifying how to best support themselves, as well as best support the caregivers and the children in their home, during an emergency or disaster. Additionally, professionals will have the opportunity to collaborate and practice this act of responding, as we aim to support the children and families in our community.
Please reference the Emergency Response Toolkit link below for a free download of the toolkit.
https://www.aimhitn.org/emergency-preparedness
The Impact of Relationships
Title: The Impact of Relationships
Date: March 6, 2024
Time: 9:30am - 12:00pm EST
Description:
Join us to learn how early relationships shape brain development and influence how children understand themselves, others, and the world.
This training will cover the following:
Infant and early childhood mental health
How early relationships shape brain development
The Endorsement credential and how it supports professionals like you.
STARS: Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training
Title: STARS: Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training
Date: February 29, 2024 & March 1, 2024, in person
Time: 7:30am- 2:30pm CST/ 8:30am - 3:30pm EST
Description:
We are thrilled to have you join us for the Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) Training!
This is a training for Child Welfare workers and Foster Parents that supports the reflective capacity of professionals working with caregivers and families. Facilitating Attuned Interactions is a model from the Erikson Institute that promotes self-awareness of providers and increased attunement to caregivers that results in improved professional/parent relationships and improved service recipient outcomes. FAN has been a core framework for pediatricians, mental health clinicians, home visitors, and child welfare professionals across the US. The model emphasizes slowing down interactions with service recipients to increase focus on relationships, which has been shown through research to decrease the amount of time for families to reach their identified goals. FAN is a huge asset to a number of TN's workforce sectors, and we're so excited to bring this opportunity to child welfare.
*Lunch is provided.
*Both days (2) must be attended to complete the training. You must register for both days separately.
Presenter(s): Alison D. Peak & Rachel Hanson
TN IECMH ECHO: Supporting Early Parenting Series
Title: Supporting Early Childhood
Date: Feb 28th, 2024
Time: 2:00pm CST/ 3:00pm EST
Details on individual sessions may be viewed on the ECHO platform.
Stories from the Field: TN Voices, Supporting Families at Home
Title: Stories from the Field: TN Voices, Supporting Families at Home
Date: Feb 28th, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 2:30pm CST/2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Description:
Join the TN Voices Ready Set Grow team as we discuss Family Coaching, a home-based support for children 0-8 rooted in the Pyramid Model. Family Coaching is designed to reduce family stress, promote appropriate behaviors, and teach children the skills needed for optimal development and school readiness. In this session, we will provide a basic overview of the Pyramid Model Framework, share our Family Coaching model, highlight the importance of the home-school connection, and provide resources that can be shared with families and educators!
Presenter(s):
Taylor Thurnau & Carolyn Burk
Making Room for Grief as You Care for the Grieving
Title: Making Room for Grief as You Care for the Grieving
Date: Feb 22nd, 2024
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm CST/12:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Description:
This 2-hour session will (a) highlight the reality of grief and loss among parents/caregivers of young children and (b) explore the importance of making room for one's own grief while caring for grieving families. The presenter will provide didactic training, as well as embed experiential elements throughout the session to promote learning.
Biography:
Mekel S. Harris, Ph.D., NCSP, PMH-C, CAGCS
Dr. Mekel Harris currently serves in private practice as a licensed psychologist and CEO of Harris Psychological Services, LLC, offering mental health support to children and their families. Dr. Harris also provides training, education, and consultation to organizations around the globe, focused on an array of mental health themes. Finally, she is co-founder of Bloomwell Partners, LLC, a consulting firm that equips corporate entities with the skills necessary to afford grief-informed leadership and care within the workplace.
Throughout the past decade, Dr. Harris has presented at >30 domestic and international conferences and has been interviewed on several podcasts, with topics ranging from grief and loss to community mental health and trauma. She has been featured as a mental health expert on FOX13 Memphis, has published and contributed to several magazine articles, and is the author of a memoir, "Relaxing Into the Pain." In her spare time, Dr. Harris enjoys spending time with her family, traveling the globe, writing, volunteering in her community, and collecting all things butterflies.
Best Practices for Serving Infants, Toddlers, and Young Children in the Child Welfare System
Title: Best Practice for Serving Infants, Toddlers, and Young Children in the Child Welfare System
Date: Feb 22-23rd, 2024
Time: 8:30amCST/9:30amEST
Presenters: Corrine Lewis, LCSW, IMH-E & Karisa Johns Smith, Psy. D
Description: When Balancing Feels Like Juggling: Supporting infants and young children in foster care through the lens of attachment. This training is tailored towards clinicians, who are working to support healthy, relational development for young children and their families, while also working closely with the child welfare system. This training supports clinicians, who work in the lives of children under six and their families involved with the child welfare system. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to assess and meet the unique needs of our state’s most vulnerable children. Theoretical foundations of attachment, child development, and trauma will be expanded upon to support best practices for serving these children across systems. To enhance clinical skillsets this training with integrate recordings, case vignettes, and small group activities.
*Applications are due by Feb 9th, 2024
TN IECMH ECHO: Supporting Early Parenting Series
Title: Supporting Early Childhood
Date: Feb 20th, 2024
Time: 11:30am CST/ 12:30am EST
Details on individual sessions may be viewed on the ECHO platform.
A Father's Impact on the Early Years of Life
Title: A Father's Impact on the Early Years of Life
Date: Feb 16th, 2024
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm CST/11:00am - 1:00pm EST
Description:
This is a Member Only training. This training will be shedding light on the profound impact of a father’s relationship during the early years of a child’s life, with a special appearance from the Tennessee DHS Commissioner Clarence Carter. We will showcase how a father’s role contributes to building resilience, fostering confidence, and promoting healthy brain development in children. Additionally, we will discuss effective ways for professionals to engage with fathers. The session will conclude by sharing enjoyable activities that fathers can participate in with their infants.
Presenter Biography(s):
Special Guest, DHS Commissioner Clarence Carter:
Clarence H. Carter was appointed to serve as a member of Governor Bill Lee’s Cabinet as the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) in January 2021. Mr. Carter leads the state’s second-largest agency with an operating budget of more than $3 billion and nearly 4,000 employees working in offices in all 95 counties. Through more than 17 programs and services, the Department partners with Tennesseans to facilitate nutrition programs, employment assistance, vocational training, and protective services to enhance their well-being.
Mr. Carter serves as chair of the State’s Families First Community Advisory Board and Child Care Task Force, and as a member of the State’s Coordinating Task Force; each dedicated to innovation in determining collaborative solutions to better serve Tennesseans. Mr. Carter is a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow and 2022 recipient of the Spirit of Fatherhood Judge David Gray Ross Award from the National Partnership for Community Leadership. Mr. Carter also serves as a thought leader on issues in human services; presenting at national conferences and testifying before Congress.
Mr. Carter has more than 30 years of experience in the public safety net space, including serving four governors, a mayor and in the administrations of President George W. Bush and President Donald Trump. Mr. Carter served as Director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security and Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services. He also managed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and served as the Director of the Office of Community Services. On the local level, Mr. Carter served as Director of the Washington, D.C., Department of Human Services, where he led an initiative to transform the District’s shelter-based homeless system to one that assisted those served to finding permanent residency.
In 2015, Mr. Carter founded the Institute for the Improvement of the Human Condition. At that organization, he worked with state and local safety net agencies to meet the emergency needs of socially and economically vulnerable citizens.
Prior to serving as TDHS Commissioner, Mr. Carter served on the federal level as Director of the Office of Family Assistance and Acting Director of the Office of Community Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While there, Mr. Carter led the administration of seven federal programs including the $16.5 billion Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Mr. Carter earned his bachelor’s degree at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Mr. Carter has an enduring commitment to transform the safety net by connecting economically, socially, and developmentally vulnerable individuals and families to services that expand beyond their short-term needs, but also position them for long-lasting success.
Keena Friday- Gilbert MBA, MSW, IECMH-E®
Greetings! I'm Keena Friday-Gilbert, the Chief Program Officer at AIMHiTN. I proudly joined the AIMHiTN team in December 2020, and since then, it's been my honor to contribute to our mission. As a native Tennessean, I've dedicated over 16 years of my professional career to transforming the lives of children and families in our state. My career has seen me in various roles in nonprofit management, consistently advocating for infant and early childhood mental health. I am a proud alumna of the University of Tennessee, where I earned my Master's degree in Social Work, and I'm currently furthering my studies in pursuit of a Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Memphis.
My path with AIMHiTN began as an intern, an enriching experience spanning two years. In that time, I contributed significantly to the Safe Baby Court program and strategic planning, shaping the direction of our various projects. With my IECMH-E® endorsement, I pour my heart into serving each family and community we touch in Tennessee.
Away from my professional commitments, I cherish spending quality time with my family and enjoy an active lifestyle, basking in both the vibrant and tranquil moments of life.
Kristin Dunn MS, CTRS, IECMH-E®
I'm Kristin Dunn, MS, CTRS, IECMH-E®, and I embarked on my journey with AIMHiTN’s team in May of 2019. My educational journey took me to the University of Tennessee at Martin, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Child and Families Studies with a minor in Political Science. This was followed by acquiring a master’s degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Upon graduation, I seized the opportunity to head to Washington DC and work with the Children Rights Council, advocating for children to have access to both parents. My path then led me to provide Recreational Therapy for adolescents in residential treatment in Chattanooga, TN. For a significant part of my career—10 years—I dedicated myself to Prevention and Early Intervention Services in Knoxville, TN, contributing to programs like the Healthy Families Home Visiting Program and the Regional Intervention Program.
In my free time, I treasure moments with family and friends. I'm always excited about traveling with my husband and young daughter, cheering on the Volunteers, and engaging in outdoor activities.
Guiding both my professional endeavors and personal life is a simple yet profound motto: "Every child (person) should know a little joy everyday".
Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Title: Aprobación para Profesionales en el Campo de la Salud Mental Infantil
Date: Feb 12th, 2024
Time: 2:00pm CST/ 3:00pm EST
Presenters: Flor Abarca and Veronica Rosa-Sandoval
Description: Información sobre el endoso para profesionales de la infancia y la niñez temprana.
TN IECMH ECHO: Supporting Early Parenting Series
Title: Supporting Early Childhood
Date: Feb 12th, 2024
Time: 10:00am CST/ 11:00am EST
Details on individual sessions may be viewed on the ECHO platform.
Let's Talk About It: Reflective Practice and Microaggressions
Title: Let's Talk About It: Reflective Practice and Microaggressions
Date: February 8, 2024
Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm CST/12:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Description:
This session will focus on enhancing self and other awareness of microaggressions through reflective practice. We will explore strategies for identifying and responding to micro-aggressions within our work, with a specific focus on ourselves. Participants will be invited to participate in regulation activities, as well as the process of critical-self reflection, and dialogue.
Biography:
Amittia Parker, PhD, LMSW, MPA, IMH-E® Specialist is a researcher, trainer, social worker, and mama scholar. She is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University. She provides training and technical assistance for the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety. She also helps lead a program evaluation on infant and mental health consultation. Her research, scholarship, and service focuses on advancing minority mental health and equity, particularly among BIPOC families that are pregnant and parenting young children.
Endorsement 101
Endorsement 101
Feb 7th, 2024
11:00am- 12:00pm CST/12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
This is an introductory session tailored toward those interested in applying for Infant Mental Health Endorsement® or the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®. Participants will learn more about the categories of Endorsement, requirements for each category, and the process for applying for Endorsement in Tennessee. Time will be provided for specific questions and discussion.
Presenters: Denise McDrummond, Kristin Williams, and Laura Thorn
TN IECMH ECHO: Supporting Early Parenting Series
Title: Supporting Early Childhood
Date: Jan 31st, 2024
Time: 2:00pm CST/ 3:00pm EST
Details on individual sessions may be viewed on the ECHO platform.
Engaging in Intentional Professional Growth
Title: Engaging in Intentional Professional Growth
Date: January 31st, 2024
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm CST/12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Description:
With the start of a new year, so many of us find we are looking for ways to shape ourselves into better versions. We exercise, we organize, we budget. In our practice, it is critical that we are intentional to shape our professional growth as well to ensure that we have the skills to build better opportunities for our future and the future children/families we serve. This presentation will look at how we visualize and vocalize our why and discuss ways to practice intentional professional growth that can be individualized for each person. Start the new year with a resounding acclamation of worth: that you are worth the effort, time, and energy needed to develop yourself!
Presenter: Amy Jenkins, M. Ed, IMH-E®