RECENT NEWS

June 2022

Statement on the Reversal of 
Roe v. Wade

Friday’s Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has left many of us feeling disgusted, disheartened, and outraged. Access to safe abortion is an essential part of reproductive healthcare, family planning, and overall community and societal wellbeing. 

The Alliance advocates for the rights of all child-bearing people, the right to safe and quality health care, women’s rights, and the right to choose. In our efforts to lead with an anti-racist lens to promote equity and advance social justice, it is difficult to find words that capture what this regressive and harmful ruling means for our country, for childbearing people, and for marginalized communities; communities continuously impacted by unjust policies, practices, and laws. In our support of professionals working with pregnant people, infants, and families, we are also struck by the implications that this ruling has on the systems our infant-early childhood mental health professionals work within, on the communities we serve, and on our ability to properly care and advocate for the people we have committed our careers to serving.   

Our hearts go out to those who are and will be directly, physically, and emotionally impacted. Our minds continue to commit to work that promotes equity and work that builds healthy and strong communities for our infants. Our hope is that our infant-early childhood mental health workforce stands strong together in supporting our community through this time. Our desire is that our workforce, leaders, and all with any voice to be heard will lead in the restoration and protection of our community's most fundamental human rights.

The Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health

presented by PACEs Connection's Race & Equity Workgroup 

Learn more and register HERE

6 bi monthly sessions July 2021-May 2022

This virtual series examines historical trauma in the United States of America and its impact on American society and  the overall well-being of Americans.  Discussions will make connections between America's history and the current mental health crisis, social determinants of health and the disparities and inequities present in our communities today.

State of RI Press Release:

Governor McKee, EOHHS Begin Distribution of Rhode Island Rebounds Funding to Early Intervention Providers

The $5.5 million for Early Intervention providers is part of the McKee Administration’s RI Rebounds initiative

March 2022

Baby's First Years publishes first findings: Monthly cash support to families impacts infant brain activity

Our new study shows that an anti-poverty intervention had a direct impact on children’s brain development. After one year, infants of mothers in low-income households receiving $333 in monthly cash support were more likely to show faster brain activity, in a pattern associated with learning and development at later ages. Read more here. 

https://www.babysfirstyears.com 

For more info and to download an application visit www.umb.edu/ipmh or contact iphm@umb.edu

January 26, 2022; 11am -5:30pm ET - University of Massachusetts - Boston

Infant-Parent Mental Health Postgraduate Certificate  Program

Currently accepting applications for the program starting March 2022 and ending in November 2023.  This program fulfills the Alliance for Infant Mental Health Training and Reflective Supervision/Consultation requirements for the credential: Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health® as an I/ECMH Specialist (Category III) and the I/ECMH Mentor  (Category IV).  In addition, fellows earn a Postgraduate Certificate in Infant-Parent Mental Health from the University of Massachusetts.

State of RI Press Release: 

Governor McKee Submits Plan for Rhode Island Rebounds: Immediate Investments in Rhode Island’s Families, Workers and Small Businesses

News from RIght from the Start:

Urge congress to Think Babies and Act!  

Mind the Gap! Babies Need More than Patchwork Solutions

For far too long, policies and systems that support babies and families have been riddled with gaps. Too few families can find the high-quality, affordable child care they want, access the comprehensive paid leave they need, or afford to make ends meet. Babies and families need more than patchwork solutions that only provide a temporary solution.  It’s time for Congress to invest in permanent policies that ensure all babies have what they need to reach their full potential. Take action below to tell your Senators, Representative, and the White House to Think Babies and Act and ensure that the policies they need are part of an economic reconciliation package.

https://www.thinkbabies.org/take-action-email-congress-reconciliation-mind-the-gap/ 

Faces are Essential

A brief on why  faces are essential for babies and  FAIMH's initiative to distribute clear face masks to child care provides in Florida

https://www.faimh.org/faces

Watch new RIght from the Start video: Home Visiting is a Lifeline

"Parenting is hard and families can use extra help nurturing their babies and setting them up for a healthy life. Rhode Island has a strong network of voluntary, evidence-based home visiting prevention programs that help guide parents during these critical early years when a child’s brain is rapidly developing and laying the foundation for future learning, health, and behavior. We need to ensure Medicaid covers these visits to sustain these programs that are proven to help build more strong, healthy families today and save costs over time."

Learn more at RIght from the Start

New RIght from the Start video calls for "Worthy Wages" for Rhode Island's Early Educators