A child’s brain undergoes an amazing period of development from birth to three—producing more than a million neural connections each second. This session provides participants with an understanding of how brain development occurs within the context of relationships in infancy and early childhood. Participants will explore key concepts such as “mind-sight,” “serve & return,” experience dependency and expectancy, as they relate to neural development. Participants will learn how the limbic system and executive functioning are mediated through relationships and experience. Finally, participants will examine the impact of trauma and toxic stress on brain development.

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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Reflective supervision and consultation (RS/C) pay attention to the influence of relationships on other relationships, commonly referred to as the parallel process. The goal of RS/C is to provide support for professionals that demonstrates the ways in which they, too, can create more effective and supportive relationships with other professionals and families. RS/C empowers the supervisor/supervisee or consultant/consultee dyad to form a reflective alliance in which exploration of ambiguity is supported; judgment and problem-solving are suspended; and emotions, thoughts, and behaviors are considered in relation to their work. This “holding space” can be a vehicle for the exploration and self-examination of one’s social location and points of intersectionality with respect to keeping the baby in mind, understanding the family story, and attending to one’s professional “use-of-self"—both of which require intentional and transparent attention. Explore the important components of RS/C, learn key skills associated with RS/C, and consider opportunities to integrate RS/C into your scope of work.

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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During the earliest months and years of life, the architecture of the brain is being built at an unparalleled rate in response to nurturing early experiences. Gain a fundamental understanding of infant and early childhood development from birth through 5 years old. Explore multiple domains of development such as physical, motor, perceptual, cognitive, communication and language development, with a focus on social-emotional development, as the foundation for all development. Consider how development unfolds in infants and young children and recognize indicators of developmental delays or possible disorders in addition to milestones of typical development.

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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Pregnancy and the birth of a child are significant markers in the life of not only the developing baby but the parents and family as well. This includes thinking about the “imagined child” (the prospective parent dreams about) and the actual baby that comes into their life, as well as the imagined parent (how they dream about and anticipate they will parent) and the development of the actual parental identity. Explore and consider key concepts around development, identity, and issues surrounding complicated pregnancies, prematurity, and loss.

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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Many children have had early traumatic experiences. They come into our lives and our programs with a variety of developmental needs. To provide appropriate and effective strategies and supports, professionals must understand the specific needs of the children and families they work with by incorporating a trauma-informed lens. Explore a healing-centered approach to care and consider its application in your practice with infants, young children, and their families. 

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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The arrival of a baby whose development, physical or cognitive capacities are delayed or reflect disability can have a significant impact on the family. Many professionals across early childhood disciplines such as health, mental health, early intervention, and early childhood education play a key role in supporting the young child in reaching their optimal potential while also supporting the parents and family. Review and consider ways to identify developmental disorders and disabilities, provide early intervention, and foster family support and competence.

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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Understanding infants and young children is largely based on our ability to observe their behaviors, interactions and development. Early childhood professionals need to be aware of how best to use observations, screening, and possibly developmental or psychological assessment in their understanding of the child and intervention with child and family. This session will provide an overview of formal and informal means of observation and assessment.

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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Clinical formulation is the basis of intervening in supporting the mental health and development of young children and their families. Clinical formulation is the way in which the young child’s clinical presentation is understood in the context of their relationships, biology, social environments, developmental competence and cultural context. Any intervention should be based on a comprehensive understanding of the young child’s abilities and developmental progression and relationships. This session will explore how clinicians arrive at clinical formulation needed for treatment planning and highlight some current relationship-based interventions that are evidence based.

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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Early childhood systems are multidisciplinary; mental health clinicians often need to interface with a variety of service systems surrounding the lives of infants/young children and their family. Explore ways to promote coordination and IECMH-informed policy and systems approaches. Consider roles and goals across early childhood disciplines and some evidence-based and promising practice models in early intervention, early childhood education, home visiting, and child welfare systems. Learn about the public health approach to IECMH which focuses on the continuum of promotion, prevention, and intervention.

$25 per session OR $200 for the entire series!

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