Description: When infants are born into this world, they come with a brain that is ready to learn through relationships. For those of us that choose to work with these infants and young children, we must understand the importance of holding a specialized set of skills to support their development through the context of relationships with their families. During this workshop,  presenters will dive into the definition of IECMH, begin to understand how IECMH principles inform our work, and better understand the importance of reflection in our work.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn the definition of infant/early childhood mental health.
2. Name at least 3 guiding principles of infant/early childhood mental health.
3. Understand the necessity of reflection in infant/early childhood work.

Arielle Handevidt, MA, IMH-E – Senior Director of Early Education & Innovation, Northside Achievement Zone

Lauren Moberg, LMFT, IMH-E – Director of Infant & Early Childhood, Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health

Level: Basic | For: Everyone | Ages Addressed: Prenatal – 6

About the Presenters

Arielle Handevidt, MA, IMH-E is the Senior Director for Early Education & Innovation at the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ),where she champions the social and emotional development and mental health of children, prenatal to age five, and their families and caregivers in North Minneapolis. Through this work, she has the privilege of interacting and building relationships with many dedicated partners, community members, colleagues, families, and scholars. In addition to her work with children and their families, she works to advance the ongoing professional development of a culturally competent interdisciplinary workforce to serve infants and young children. Arielle also serves as an instructor at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development in the Infant andEarly Childhood Mental HealthMasters and Certificate programs

Arielle has over 15 years of professional experience in the field of early childhood with specific expertise in adult education for early care and education providers, coaches, and trainers, as well as experience in policy and systems work through a multidisciplinary lens. Throughout her career, Arielle has had many opportunities to engage community members in different ways, including as a coach, program manager of community programs, and community representative. Using adult learning theories and an individual-led approach, she has experience coaching professionals from diverse backgrounds. Arielle has an Undergraduate Degree in child development and family studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a Master’sDegree in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.

Lauren Moberg, LMFT, IMH-E is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist. She currently works as the Infant and Early Childhood Director at theMinnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health and also provides mental health consultation and reflective consultation to professionals working with or on behalf of infants and young children and their families/caregivers.by incarceration in jails across the state.