Defining and Understanding Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (I/ECMH)
Tuesday 8/24/2021 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM CST
I/ECMH is the developing capacity of the child from birth to 5 years of age to form close and secure adult and peer relationships; experience, manage, and express a full range of emotions; and explore the environment and learn-all in the context of family, community, and culture. I/ECMH addresses the needs and strengths of the child, the needs and strengths of the primary caregiver, and the quality of the caregiving relationship. This webinar will define I/ECMH, overview guiding principles and approaches, highlight the importance of early childhood trauma, and discuss practices and strategies for attending to I/ECMH. How equity overlaps with I/ECMH will also be discussed throughout.
Presented by:
Allison Lowe-Fotos, MSW, LCSW, Policy Manager - Start Early
Allison works on issues and initiatives of mental health, home visiting, early childhood expulsion, child welfare, families impacted by the criminal legal system, and early childhood workforce development. She has been an adjunct professor with the Erikson Institute since 2020. She has previously worked in direct practice in early childhood education programs providing case management, family support work, therapy with children and families, infant/early childhood mental health consultation, and supervising a teen parent home visiting program. She also has international experience working in programs and projects in China, Mexico, and Turkey. Allison has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.S.W. from Loyola University Chicago and is credentialed in Infant Mental Health.
Michelle Lee Murrah, MEd, LCPC, I/ECMH-C, President-Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health
Michelle is a licensed clinical professional counselor who has worked individually with families and has provided consultation and training to professionals around facilitating attuned interactions that have resulted in professionals being better able to communicate effectively and efficiently. Michelle has worked both as a teacher and infant mental health specialist with The Erikson Institute, a graduate school in child development. Michelle currently works as an Early Childhood Practice Consultant within the Educare Learning Network at Start Early where she serves as a subject matter expert around family engagement and provides consultation to early childhood school leaders. In addition, Michelle has held numerous leadership positions in both her career and community involvement. She has held key leadership roles as President of The Lambda Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, National Co-Director of the Arts and Chapter Fundraising Chair of the Links, Incorporated and President of The Society, Chicago Chapter for the Arts.
