The Faculty Symposia on Integrating Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Principles into Existing Multidisciplinary Curricula was the result of a unique partnership made possible through cross-disciplinary collaboration by staff and faculty, and with support from:

  • Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health–Infant and Early Childhood Division (MACMH-IEC)
  • Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU)
  • Saint Paul College
  • The Center for Early Education and Development (CEED)
  • Harris Programs
  • The Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health at the University of Minnesota (UMN)
  • The University of Minnesota Duluth Campus
  • Minnesota Department of Human Services

Inspired by a inter-departmental initiative at St. Cloud State University, the group began meeting in 2014 to discuss the need for integrating current advances in neuroscience and infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) into pre-service education and training. The group was concerned about the discrepancy between the rapid growth in scientific knowledge about early childhood development and the integration of this core knowledge into pre-service learning institutions and ongoing professional development opportunities.


Subsequently, five faculty symposia were held annually between 2015 and 2019, resulting in the development of eleven instructional modules.  In 2019, the Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health hosted Minnesota’s Faculty Symposium for faculty and staff.


In 2025, the Minnesota Department of Education, through Metro State University, offered MACMH-IEC a grant to update and revise the materials to align with the current Minnesota Knowledge and Competency Framework. The updated materials were presented at the 2025 annual Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Conference and are now available through this virtual platform.

An introductory webinar is the first step, once complete access to the modules and all its resources will be available. This one-hour webinar module offers faculty a focused, accessible overview of key principles and emerging practices in infant and early childhood mental health. Designed to fit into busy schedules, the session combines expert insight with practical application, highlighting developmentally responsive approaches that support young children and their caregivers.

There are eight modules for the current Faculty Symposium. These include:
Module 1: Defining an IECMH framework
Module 2: The process of development
Module 3: The relationship/attachment lens
Module 4: The stress/trauma lens and promoting resilience
Module 5: The culture lens (also integrated into all modules)
Module 6: Partnering with parents and caregivers (incorporates the ‘Two-generation’ module)
Module 7: Assessment and intervention
8-Module 8: Promoting reflective functioning in pre-service work

Each module includes:
+ Module overview including objectives, core concepts, and adaptations for multiple disciplines
+ List of learning activities
+ Suggested readings
+ Powerpoint with instructor notes

Some modules include additional handouts, video links, and audio links.
 
The materials are intended to be integrated into existing multidisciplinary curricula, either in parts or as a whole at the instructor’s discretion.  Several of the powerpoints are divided into discrete sections to facilitate the selection of most relevant instructional materials. 

Purchase of the Faculty Symposium includes a free electronic copy of The Guide to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. You can learn more about the Guide here.

Base price of $250 with option to purchase additional consultation hours. The one-hour webinar and modules are designed to be both high-quality and affordable, ensuring broad access for Multidisciplinary faculty/instructors from 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.

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What have prior attendees had to say about the Symposia?

“The most important learning I’m taking away from this is all the concrete tools, activities and ways to organize this information. I gained ideas and frameworks and the resources to enact these ideas.”

“Practical! Coming away with many powerful teaching tools.”


“So many application ideas! I used many of the materials from year one and now have so many more. The time and attention spent to create all the resources is so appreciated. The materials are invaluable! This is probably the best professional development opportunity I have experienced during the past year (and last year’s symposium too).”

“I think what really happened over the [Symposium] highlights the importance of working across disciplines to support parents and families…this group is really core to continuing that effort as we prepare future practitioners in multiple disciplines.”

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