Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health-CT-AIMH

07/21/2026

Fall is around the corner and it's about that time! We hope to see you there!

05/19/2026

CT-AIMH Celebrates Three Poster Acceptances at WAIMH 2026

We’re pleased to share that three abstract submissions from CT-AIMH's Infant Mental Health Integrated Care Pilot have been accepted for poster presentation at the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) 2026 World Congress, taking place October 2–6, 2026, in Toronto.

This achievement reflects strong cross-sector collaboration, with evaluation leadership provided by the UConn Evaluation Team, led by Dr. Malina Herr and Dr. Beth Russell, professors in Human Development & Family Sciences and leaders within graduate studies and the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD). The team guided data collection, analysis, and interpretation, abstract submissions and the design of poster presentations.

Please join us in congratulating the UConn Evaluation Team for their outstanding work. We look forward to sharing more following the 2026 World Congress—and hope you’ll join us there for their impressive line up!

Poster presentation topics include:

-Embedding Infant Mental Health Supports in Pediatric Practices: Lessons from Connecticut’s Pilot
-Provider and Caregiver Experiences of Digital and Relational Supports in an Integrated Care Pilot
-Prior Pediatric Screening Experiences and Caregiver Knowledge of Early Child Development

WAIMH was an energizing experience, connecting with friends met at previous Congresses, meeting new colleagues, and hearing messages from those committed to making the world safer and more emotionally safe for infants and young children. Congratulations and thank you to all who made the 2018 Congres...

05/18/2026

🌟 Celebrating the 2026 Jane C. Bourns Award Recipient 🌟

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Arietta Slade, Ph.D. was honored as the recipient of this year’s Jane C. Bourns Award at our Spring Conference. The award was proudly presented by members of our Board of Directors, Dr. Darcy Lowell, MD and Dr. Tanika Eaves, Ph.D.

About Dr. Arietta Slade:

Arietta Slade, Ph.D. is Professor of Clinical Child Psychology at the Yale Child Study Center, and Professor Emerita in the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at the City University of New York. An internationally recognized theoretician, clinician, researcher, and teacher, she has published widely on reflective parenting, the clinical implications of attachment theory, the development of parental mentalization, and the relational contexts of early symbolization. She regularly presents her work to national and international audiences.

For the past 20 years, Dr. Slade has been co-directing Minding the Baby, an interdisciplinary reflective parenting home visiting program for high-risk mothers, infants, and their families at the Yale Child Study Center and School of Nursing. This program was one of only 18 certified “evidence-based” home visiting programs in the United States during the time of its designation in 2014.

She is the author, with Lois S. Sadler, Tanika Eaves, and Denise L. Webb of Enhancing Attachment and Reflective Parenting in Clinical Practice: A Minding the Baby Approach (Guilford Press, 2023), and with Jeremy Holmes of Attachment in Therapeutic Practice (SAGE Publications, 2018). She is also editor of several influential books on attachment, infant research, and psychoanalysis.

Thank you, Dr. Slade, for your extraordinary leadership, dedication, and transformative contributions to infant and early childhood mental health. Your work has profoundly strengthened early relationships and supported countless vulnerable families. This recognition is so well deserved!

05/18/2026

What an inspiring day at the 2026 Spring Conference hosted last week by Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health.

This year’s conference theme, Celebrating Neurodiversity through the Lens of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, invited all of us to reflect more deeply on attachment, attunement, neuroaffirming care, and the ways we support relationships with infants, young children, and caregivers. Presenter Kris Barnekow, PhD, FAOTA, OTR/L, IMH-E® engaged participants in reflection and exploration on how we can move beyond “one size fits all” approaches and instead embrace strengths-based, individualized, relationship-centered care.
We were grateful for the opportunity to present and engage in rich conversations about neurodiversity, caregiver co-regulation, reflective practice, and the importance of understanding each child and family within their unique context and lived experience. The day was filled with thoughtful dialogue, learning, and meaningful connection across disciplines.

We also appreciated learning alongside leaders such as Kris Barnekow, whose work challenged us to think more expansively about attachment, neurodiversity, and relational care.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their wisdom, curiosity, and commitment to this incredible day of shared learning and community.

03/23/2026

CT-AIMH Spring Conference 2026 – Don’t miss this one!

Celebrating Neurodiversity through the Lens of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Join us in-person on Thursday, May 14, 2026
8:30 am – 12:30 pm at The Woodwinds, Branford, CT
(Breakfast included!)

Featuring keynote presenter:
Kris Barnekow, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, IMH-E®
Infant Family Specialist & Endorsed Reflective Supervisor

Funded by Connecticut Children & Families, CT Social Services, and CT Office of Early Childhood.

Register today → https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/.../df77533b-f572...

We can’t wait to gather, learn, and celebrate with all of you!

Please like and share!

03/05/2026

Key Words: Sankofa, Decolonization, Revitalization, Infant Mental Health History, Storytelling, Healing Justice Funding: Irving Harris Foundation and the Academy of ZERO TO THREE Fellows The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. This manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not...

02/17/2026

The importance of early relationships is central to the field of infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH), yet the role of fathers has too often been overlooked or relegated to the margins. This special issue seeks to reframe and elevate fatherhood by centering father’s voices, experiences...

01/27/2026

It’s time to tell America what babies really need.

Strolling Thunder 2026 is calling on families with babies and toddlers (0–3) to partner with ZERO TO THREE to become a leading voice for babies, pushing for policies that support good health, strong families and positive early learning.

Some families will meet with Congress in Washington, DC. Others will participate virtually. All selected families receive training, preparation, and support.

If you’re ready to share your story and help create change, apply by February 13: https://bit.ly/3LDrNXV

12/29/2025

CT-AIMH is proud to celebrate Family Educator Mili Lebron from the New Haven Family Resource Center for her outstanding work with families of young children!

Through the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Integrated Care Pilot, Mili provided compassionate parent support and service navigation, walking alongside families as they accessed the care and resources they needed. Collocated with the pediatric team at Fair Haven Community Health Center, Mili partnered closely with Dr. Katie Swec and Dr. Kamisha Bias to support families through developmental screenings, parenting support, and meaningful connections to essential services.

From Birth to Three and Parent-Child Psychotherapy to housing and other vital community supports, Mili was a steady, trusted presence for families navigating Connecticut’s service delivery system. While the work was challenging, Reflective Supervision and Consultation played a key role in strengthening her confidence and capacity ensuring families received care rooted in understanding, collaboration, and hope.

Thank you, Mili, for your dedication, heart, and commitment to families and young children. 💙👏

12/04/2025

Maternal substance use is a pressing public health issue that confers risk for maternal health, the parent-infant relationship, and child development. Integrated interventions that jointly address ma...