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KAIMH Connections
Resources for Early Childhood Mental Health Advocates
Updates | February 2025
Highlights in this newsletter include a free Conscious Discipline training opportunity, KAIMH Conference 2025 registration, an employment opportunity with KAIMH, Alice Eberhart-Wright nominations, open board positions, race and social justice information and upcoming professional development classes.
Free Conscious Discipline Training!
KAIMH is offering a free professional development opportunity (valued at $550) for Early Childhood Professionals! This learning opportunity includes access to the self-paced, online Conscious Discipline course, Powers of Resilience: SEL for Adults, a printable workbook, and two group learning sessions to practice deeper reflection, insights and ideas for immediate implementation in your work and life. Participants will have access to the online videos from February 15 – March 26th. For those interested in receiving 4 hours of KDHE in-service, they must attend the two group learning sessions scheduled on Wed. March 5 and Wed. March 26th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Click the button below to learn more and apply.
KAIMH is looking to hire a Project Coordinator. This is a 30 hour (negotiable) hybrid position working from a home office and in the Kansas City, KS area.
The Project Coordinator will primarily provide support to implement project activities in the Kansas City, Kansas area in collaboration with KAIMH, university partners, childcare partners, and others to support endorsement activities and training. Click here to view the full position description and application instructions.
Join us May 1-2, 2025 in Salina Kansas for our Annual KAIMH Conference. This year we will be celebrating 30 years of service with a birthday celebration and evening mixer. To start off the fun, keynote speaker, Tabatha Rosproy, 2020 National Teacher of the Year, will present, From Tiny Seeds Grow Mighty Trees.
Registration Fees
For the best conference price, become a KAIMH member for $35 Member Registration ($275), Non-Member Registration ($325)
We have limited scholarship opportunities. If you are an early educator we encourage you to apply for a KCCTO scholarship here. We also have some Preschool Development Grant scholarships open to all early childhood professionals that work in Kansas. Click here to apply.
Tabatha Rosproy
Working with children and families is one of the most worthwhile endeavors one can choose, but it’s also a field that experiences frequent burnout. Join us for a morning and afternoon session where we explore how to cultivate tiny seeds of joy in our lives that will sustain us through challenges and reinvigorate our passion. Tabatha will use her background in improvisational comedy and knowledge of play-based practices to help us take an active role living lives of joy! Come ready to laugh and learn and play together!
Join us for an evening of fun mocktails, music, appetizers and games at the Salina Art Center, 242 S Santa Fe Ave. No additional fee to attend. Located in downtown Salina and within walking distance to a variety of fabulous dining options!
Friday, May 2, 2025 7:30 Registration, breakfast (pastries, coffee, orange juice) 8:15 - 8:30 Welcome back fun 8:30 - 10:00 Breakout sessions 10:15 - 11:45 Breakout sessions 11:45 - 12:30 Lunch and birthday party (taco bar, cupcakes) 12:30 - 2:00 Breakout sessions KDHE Clock hours: 4.5
Race and Social Justice
Race and social justice issues can significantly impact early childhood development, leading to potential negative effects on self-esteem, social interactions, and overall well-being, particularly for children from marginalized communities. This is seen through:
• Early Awareness of Race Babies as young as 6 months can notice physical differences based on skin color, and by toddlerhood, children can start using race to make decisions about playmates and social interactions. • Implicit Bias and Discrimination Children can pick up on implicit biases present in their environment, including from caregivers, peers, and media, leading to discriminatory behavior towards children of different races. • Impact on Self-esteem Children from marginalized racial groups may experience lower self-esteem due to exposure to negative stereotypes or feeling excluded from social groups. • Access to High Quality Childcare Children from marginalized communities often have less access to high-quality early childhood education programs due to factors like socioeconomic disparities and geographic location. • Stress and Trauma Experiencing racial discrimination or microaggressions can lead to chronic stress and trauma in young children, impacting their development and mental health.
We can make a difference! If you are interested in joining KAIMH’s Race and Social Justice Committee, fill out this quick form and we will be in touch!
Join Our Board!
We need KAIMH members interested in leading our organization into the future! If you are interested in serving, we are soliciting nominations.
How? Send us a letter of interest and your resume/vita to info@kaimh.org. Let us know why you want to serve on the KAIMH board and what skills and knowledge you would bring to the board. Or you are welcome to complete the Online Board Nomination Application form and we will be in contact soon!
AEW Nominations The Alice Eberhart-Wright Visionary Award recognizes outstanding achievements and significant contributions in the field of infant and early childhood mental health. The award is given to those who represent the mission of KAIMH and illustrate passion, creativity and best practices in their work supporting infant and early childhood mental health in Kansas. This award will be presented each year at the KAIMH annual conference. If you would like to nominate a candidate for the 2025 award, please complete the nomination form by March 1st, 2025
February-March Professional Development
Check out these upcoming professional development opportunities that support your Infant Mental Health Endorsement® from the Early Childhood Investigations Webinars, Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities, Kansas LEND, Kansas Children's Service League, and Child Care Aware network.
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