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KAIMH Connections
Resources for Early Childhood Mental Health Advocates
Updates | March 2025
Highlights in this newsletter include information about the second offering of Conscious Discipline: Powers of Resilience training, the Annual KAIMH Conference, two new consultation services, KAIMH job opportunity, upcoming professional development classes, and more!
Infant Mental Health Specialist Applications Open
Infant Mental Health Specialist applications that were on hold are open again for updating sections! You are welcome to log into your EASy account to continue. If you need assistance or are interested in starting an Infant Mental Health Specialist application please visit our KAIMH Endorsement Page for information and resources. Please contact beth@kaimh.org if you are needing help.
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 April 4 - May 10th. For those interested in receiving 4 hours of KDHE in-service, they must attend the two group learning sessions scheduled on Thursday, April 24th and Thursday, May 15th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Click the button below to learn more and apply.
PDG Strengthening Community Referral System Application
The University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research is offering free consultation services to Kansas communities and providers who are ready to tackle the challenge of developing creative solutions to better connect families to the right services at the right time. Consultation services are open to anyone in Kansas who wants to make it easier for families to get support. Community members, organizations, or groups should reach out to Loretta Severin at lseverin@ku.edu with questions. Once you’ve completed the consultation series, you will have the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to implement your plan. Click below to learn more!
Effects of Smartphones on Children's Language Development
Research indicates that even when parents use their smartphones infrequently in the presence of their children, when they do, it often results in them solely focusing on the device. This can result in technoference, which refers to the disruption of parent-child interactions caused by technology use. This technoference, in particular the frequency of audible notifications parents receive, can hinder infants' vocabulary development. In addition, parents tend to use more language during joint attention with their children, and the use of smartphones can hinder these valuable language opportunities if joint attention is disrupted. To read more about the research behind this information, click here.
New Mindful Minis Services
Mindful Minis is offering services for early learning programs, including one-on-one coaching and consultation, staff training and more to help implement mental health best practices into your program. Services are tailored to meet the unique needs of your program! To learn more, call 316-312-0796 or email bailey@mindfulminisdaycare.com.
We Are Hiring!
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
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
March-April 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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