COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SERIES 2026

Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH)
Approaches to Care: Keeping the Baby in Mind

RIAIMH's Community Conversation Series (CCS) is a 6-session (monthly) series that is organized around a broad theme to showcase IMH-relevant research, clinical practice, and/or policy work in RI.  Our goal is to offer professional development opportunities that serve to enhance knowledge of (and are aligned with) the RI Infant Mental Health Competencies and IECMH-Endorsement®.  

The 2026 CCS series will examine core Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) concepts that remind us to “Keep the Baby in Mind” in all work with young children and families. IECMH centered approaches consider the unique neurological, emotional, and relational needs of the youngest children to ensure that IEMCH related work is developmentally appropriate, relationship based, and family centered. We examine how services and programs can support parent-child interactions, promote self-regulation, and enhance social support with strengths-based, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate practice in all aspects of our work, including assessment and treatment (Zero to Three). We center discussions around individual contexts and strengths of families, as we explore implications for promoting mental health and wellbeing of infants, young children, and families. 

Time: 1:00-3:00 pm on Zoom

NOTE NEW TIME!

Session #1: January 13, 2026

The Psychology of Pregnancy & Early Parenthood

Learn more and register for Session #1

Session #2: February 3, 2026

Neuro-relational Development

Learn more and register for Session #2

Session #3: March 10, 2026

DC: 0-5: A Framework for Understanding Concerns-An Overview

Registration coming soon

Featured speakers: Noelle Hause, Senior IECMH Manager, Zero to Three

Dan Ferguson, Senior Policy Analyst, and Sheila Smith, Director, National Center for Children in Poverty

Registration is limited to 100 participants per session.

Member fee: NO COST       Non-Member fee: $40/session      CEU fee: $30/session

Session 4, 5 & 6 (fall)-dates TBD

Community Conversation Series is offered, in part, with generous support from: