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".