Updates From Us

We're thrilled to share some exciting updates on all the great things happening at Oregon Infant Mental Health Association (ORIMHA) this month.

Purchase & Register Today!

ORIMHA is excited to partner with Zero to Three to offer the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Training Series.

$200 for the series

Limited seats available
Access to recorded sessions for 30 days post-event
Purchase here

Please email andrea@or-imha.org with questions.

Spanish Reflective Practice Group/ Grupo de Práctica Reflexiva en Español.

Spanish Reflective Practice Group – Free for Oregon Professionals

Join a virtual Reflective Practice Group offered in Spanish, focused on relational health in mental health and early childhood settings. Facilitated by Angelica Molina, a bilingual/bicultural practitioner dedicated to supporting providers who serve Spanish-speaking children and families, this monthly group offers a supportive space to reflect on your work, explore cultural and relational dynamics, and build community.

Schedule:

• First Saturday of each month | 10:00 AM PST

Participation is free and open to professionals working in Oregon.

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Grupo de Práctica Reflexiva en Español – Gratis para Profesionales en Oregón

Únase a un grupo virtual de práctica reflexiva ofrecido en español, enfocado en la salud relacional en los entornos de salud mental y primera infancia. Facilitado por Angelica Molina, una profesional bilingüe y bicultural dedicada a apoyar a quienes trabajan con niños y familias hispanohablantes, este grupo mensual ofrece un espacio de apoyo para reflexionar sobre su trabajo, explorar dinámicas culturales y relacionales, y crear comunidad.

Horario:

• Primer sábado de cada mes | 10:00 AM PST

La participación es gratuita y está abierta a profesionales que trabajan en Oregón.

Register/Registro

Every Child Belongs.

In ORIMHA’s role as central entity for Every Child Belongs, we are focusing on the critical importance of self care. How does this relate to IECMH consultation? Many self care practices enable us to regulate (or balance) our nervous systems so we can show up in a state of calm, ready to carefully observe & listen. And importantly, when we are regulated, we are better able to coregulate others who are dysregulated. In Every Child Belongs, we want IECMH consultants to be regulated enough that they arrive at site visits prepared to use non-verbal cues (like their tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language) to coregulate other adults in that setting. In other words, to connect with a frustrated or frazzled teacher/provider with a state of being that allows that teacher/provider to feel more grounded and less overwhelmed. When the teacher/provider is regulated, then they are better prepared to coregulate with the children in their care.

Many self care practices may be more accessible than you think. You can “check in” with your body to give you clues about your current regulation status. For example, is your breathing shallow and more rapid? Taking 2 minutes to slow and deepen your breaths can help you reach a more regulated state. Connecting with the outdoors can help you feel more grounded. Ideally, a 10 minute walk outside can be a big help, but if that’s not possible, simply look outside and find something intriguing or beautiful give it your attention for a minute or two.

And of course, relationships! Connect with a supportive co-worker, friend, or family member with a text or call, or in person if possible. Anyone who is a good listener and is non-judgmental can be a very effective coregulator. And of course, it is ORIMHA’s vision for everyone who works with or on behalf of infants, young children, caregivers, and families to have access to reflective supervision (RS), which provides regular, predictable access to a compassionate and nonjudgmental person who can increase your reflective capacity. ORIMHA is working hard to expand the number of RS providers across the state and to make it more affordable.

So if you are a person who thinks they may be too busy for self care or sees it as indulgent, this is your reminder that the communities you serve need you to practice self care. We encourage you to build it in whenever and wherever you can because the work you do is incredibly important and so are YOU!

Shining a light on Tobiah Brown.

This month, ORIMHA would like to feature Tobiah Brown an endorsed provider, and express our gratitude for her significant contributions to early childhood mental health (ECMH).

(Q) Where do you practice?

(A) I practice all over Oregon. My therapeutic work with families happens in central Oregon and Lane County. It's important to me that everyone has access to mental health so I offer services both through telehealth and in person. I love supporting everyone who works with children and their families. This includes doulas, DHS, home day care providers and program-based care givers- they can be anywhere in Oregon and if we are good fit, I will strive to provide services.

(Q) How long have you been in practice?

(A) I have been in education for over 20 years. I started as a first grade teacher! Oh the memories! Most recently I achieved my LPC licensure This Year and started a private practice that focuses on working with families with young children. This has been fun and adventurous!

(Q) How long have you been endorsed?

(A) I received my ORIMHA endorsement for reflective supervision just last month. My training in reflective supervision/consultation started years ago in California.

(Q) Do you provide Reflective Supervision?

(A) Yes. I provide reflective consultation for a variety of fields within early childhood. So if you work for DHS, are a doula, have a home daycare and are looking for support for you or your staff to stay in the field- contact me.

(Q) Do you have any special training?

(A) Yes. I keep my interest focused on attachment, relationship maintenance (rupture and repair) and resolving past relationship ruptures. I have training in the Neurosequential Model of Reflective Supervision. It was a game changer! I am also Circle of Security trained and am undergoing the intensive training. I am really looking forward to offering parents that more intense version of parenting support. Also this year I wrapped up my EMDR with children training. It was wonderful! My families love it, I love it! It's just a joy.

(Q) How do you work with young children and families (what roles)

(A) I enjoy working dyadically with parents and children together. I also offer hands on reflective parenting classes for families that are growing (IVF, adoption, pregnancy), and families that are making their way through the rigors of parenting. I support families through the process of adoption as well post adoption support. I completed the TAC (training for adoption competency) last year and that was just wonderful.

A big part of supporting children and families for me, is supporting caregivers. I work with in a training group that offers reflective, informed, integrated trainings on a variety of issues from reflective supervision to self care all in an effort to retain folks in this field. In that same vein, I also offer reflective supervision pretty extensively.

(Q) How can people get in touch with you?

(A) Hit me up! If anything I said sparks something in you for yourself, or your program, I'm willing to listen. We can find a way to work together.

Tobiah Brown, Neuromorphis, a LLC, (541)239-3950, biahbrown@outlook.com

Thank you, Tobiah, for your contributions to the development of Oregon's system of mental health consultation!

Endorsement.

Got questions about Endorsement, Reflective Supervision, or Competency Guidelines? Join Angelica on the 2nd Saturday of each month, starting in December, from 10 AM–12 PM. No registration—just drop in, connect, and get your questions answered! Click Here to join

Scholarship Opportunities.

Did you know you may be eligible for scholarships to help pay for professional development opportunities? Check out the Portland State University scholarship page for more information.

Scholarship Page

Are you in need of reflective supervision?

ORIMHA has a Reflective Supervision Registry where you can find a list of Infant Mental Health Mentors and Infant Mental Health Specialists. Click below to access the registry. AND ORIMHA is offering low-cost group sessions. If you are interested, please email andrea@or-imha.org for more information.

Reflective Supervision Registry