SAVE the DATE for our Annual Conference-May 12, 2026
EDUCATE
Professional Development and training that bring communities together to learn
ENGAGE
Reflective Supervision/Consultation to lift up the needs of the workforce
ELEVATE
IECMH-Endorsement® to foster reflective, cultural humility, relationship-based practices
What is Infant Mental Health?It is the capacity of the young child to experience, express, and regulate emotions, and to form secure relationships, all within the context of the child's family, community, and cultural context. | Upcoming Events
| Our MissionOur MISSION is to build, sustain and partner with a diverse WORKFORCE, informed by infant and early childhood mental health principles. |
RIAIMH Announcements: Welcome Our New Executive Director 3/25/2026: Leanne Barrett named next Executive Director for the Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health (RIAIMH) “We are excited to have Leanne join RIAIMH as our next Executive Director. Her passion and commitment to improving the lives of young children and families, as well as her experience, policy expertise and vision for healthy futures for all RI’s children, make her the ideal fit as RIAIMH’s next leader,” said Board Chair, Danita Roberts, IMH-E®. “We are confident that Leanne will bring the leadership and passion for our mission that will ensure RIAIMH’s growth and deepen our capacity to serve the needs of the infant/early childhood workforce in RI.”
| 2026 Making Connections ConferenceA Million Moments: Nurturing Hope and Healing for Young Children and The Adults Who Care for Them Quotes from the 2026 Conference Day "One of the things that struck me is how many of us had similar experiences as parents and are now providers who are able to hold that perspective as well" "Babies (and families) don't thrive through "referrals" - they need all the grown-ups to connect and respect each other" "Yes, how do we identify what is really working for families and do more of that"
"I think a lot about how to get those strategies (self-reflection, curiosity, etc.) into place at the policy/systems level as well (thinking in terms of parallel process)" "..."Infrastructure is LOVE at scale"... we need strong systems to protect and support families and children." "A Million Moments reminded me that our work lives in the small things, a gaze, a cry answered, a caregiver who feels seen enough to see their baby." "nothing about us, without us"
The Susan Dickstein This award is given to an infant, early childhood mental health professional and current RIAIMH member who regularly serves as a Big Voice for Babies in RI, demonstrating a strong commitment to infants, young children, and their families, in their work and community; reflecting the mission, vision, and commitments of RIAIMH, and who exhibits strength in several or all of the following areas in their work and community: fostering strong relationships, building community, making connections, centering relationship-based practice, demonstrated innovation and vision, centering equity, cultural responsivity, and leadership. for more information and to nominate a colleague, click here Accepting Nominations!
Please submit form by September 25, 2026 Award presentation at RIAIMH's Celebrating Babies event, October 2026 |
