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About Us

The Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health (RIAIMH) is a non-profit professional organization that offers expertise in infant and early childhood mental health. RIAIMH was founded in 2002 and received 501c(3) status in November 2003.

Vision

All infants and young children in RI thrive through their experiences of nurturing and protective relationships with parents and all providers who care for them. We strive to uphold a parallel process in which families see themselves represented by a diverse, knowledgeable, and well-supported workforce. 

Mission

The mission of RIAIMH is to build, sustain and partner with a diverse workforce, informed by infant and early childhood mental health principles. Together we work towards the advancement of social and economic justice for the workforce and families and children that they serve. We aim to support the early relational health of babies, young children, and their families that experience the greatest needs, recognizing that these families are disproportionately from BIPOC communities and experience racial disparities. 

Commitment

RIAIMH is committed to holding emotional space and providing opportunities for convening, collaborating with/for the workforce to promote/uphold racial and social justice/equity, anti-racist action, and reflective practice with the purpose of dismantling systems and practices of oppression that especially affect people of color. We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging practices that serve to mitigate bias and disparity in the programs, practices, and systems that serve infants, young children and families and providers.

What we do

Through training, reflective supervision/consultation, research, and advocacy, we foster reflective, culturally competent, relationship-based practices that equip professionals to nurture strong relationships among young children and all of the adults who care for them.

Learn more.

Our Guiding Principles

Relationships are the foundation for healthy development: babies require protective relationships
with nurturing parents; babies require supportive relationships among all providers who care for them

Reflection is a cornerstone of
the work: this involves both self-awareness and consideration of
and empathy/compassion for
others

Recognition of the specialized
skills and supports required for a strong and well-prepared
workforce; we are committed to providing professional development, reflective consultation, and endorsement
that acknowledges the critical
role of the diverse workforce in
the promotion of infant/early childhood mental health

Respect that each baby is born
into unique cultural and family circumstances—we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion practices that serve to mitigate
bias and disparity in the programs, practices, and systems that serve infants, young children and families

Who we are




RIAIMH Annual BOD and Staff Retreat
2022

Back row: Beth Lobdell, Danita Roberts, and Steve Buka

Front row: Maryann Lynch, Sheila Grant Orphanides, Rob Jones, Susan Dickstein, Margaret Greene-Bromell, and Alan Harlam

Missing from photo: Cris Massey and Jessica Calle

Photographer: Alan Harlam

Our Staff:

Susan Dickstein, PhD, IMH-E, Executive Director

Maryann Mullin Lynch, BA, IMH-E, Endorsement Coordinator and Office Administrator

Sheila Grant Orphanides, MS, IMH-E, Professional Development Coordinator

Jessica Calle, MSW, LCSW, CGS, IMH-E, Bi-Lingual Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Community Coordinator

Our volunteer Board represents all the regions of our State, as well as a wide range of professional roles and programs that serve infants, young children, and their families.

Our members —the diverse workforce that promotes healthy relationships for infants, young children and families—collaborate to integrate infant mental health principles into real-life settings.

RIAIMH is an affiliate of the World Association for Infant Mental Health and a founding member of the national Alliance for the Advancement for Infant Mental Health.

Is your state a part of the Alliance?  Click HERE to see all the Associations for Infant Mental Health in the USA.     

RIAIMH is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  Forms are available for public review through Guidestar.org and available upon request to business@riamh.org


RIAIMH is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

RIAIMH is a founding member of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health.


RIAIMH is an affiliate of the World Association for Infant Mental Health.

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