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KAIMH Connections
Resources for Early Childhood Mental Health Advocates
Updates | November 2023
Highlights in this newsletter include free resources on perinatal mood disorders, FREE social emotional kits for early educators, an upcoming reflective supervision training, video of how an early learning program uses the CDC's milestone tracker, information about the annual KAIMH conference, a list of professional development opportunities that support Infant Mental Health Endorsement, and more!
Free Resources for Perinatal Mental Health
More Than the Blues is a toolkit for family services providers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It is designed for community-based providers, including those in home visitation programs; workers in the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program; and staff in Early Head Start, Head Start, and other child care programs. The toolkit delivers background information about depression and offers ideas that providers can use daily when helping mothers, and their families, who may be suffering from depression.
The mission of Postpartum Support International is to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing in every country worldwide through advocacy and collaboration, and by educating and training the professional community and the public. ​​​If you think someone may be dealing with depression and anxiety while they are pregnant or after the baby is born, you are in a unique position to help connect them to resources.
National Child & Maternal Health Education Program's purpose is to provide a forum for reviewing, translating, and disseminating new research in the field of maternal and child health. They have many resources including this handout on talking with mothers about depression and anxiety.
Thanks to funding from the Department for Children and Families KAIMH has Lakeshore Social/Emotional kits to give to early educators as a special bonus with their initial Infant Mental Health Endorsement®. These are valued at $680 and supplies are limited. If you have any questions about the IMH-Endorsement® or need assistance with your application, please contact marie@kaimh.org.
The Alliance for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health has scheduled three training opportunities for providers of reflective supervision.
“Learn the Signs. Act Early.” One Director’s Story Hear one early learning center director’s story of how her center is using “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” materials to boost providers’ professional development and to promote parent-engaged developmental monitoring.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has created an infographic showing how racism can affect child development. Check out this great resource here!
Did you know that Mind in the Making has free skill-building book tips that support children's brain development from infancy through school age? Focus and Self Control, Communicating, and Making Connections are just a few of the skills supported through these English and Spanish, interactive book readings. Go here to download your free copies. Also be sure to check out First Book, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exclusively supports educators and program leaders serving children in need.
Save the Date - KAIMH Conference 2024 April 18-19th, Overland Park, KS
Violence and trauma are being experienced by babies, young children and families in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine to Darfur and beyond. Many families have relatives and close friends in war-torn regions who are being directly affected. ZERO TO THREE has developed several free resources for parents, caregivers and professionals who support them, that offer guidance on helping young children grieve and process traumatic experiences and enabling them to provide the best care for babies and themselves in times of war and turmoil. Check out this article to read more.
Check out these upcoming professional development opportunities that support your Infant Mental Health Endorsement® from KS LEND, the Early Childhood Investigations Webinars, Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities, Kansas Children's Service League, and Child Care Aware.