Session 1

Mindful Self-Compassion

How can we become our own inner friend rather than an inner enemy?  Self-compassion is a skill that can be learned and practiced to enhance our health and well-being.  In this workshop, we will learn about the three main components of self-compassion and how research supports the use of this skill to build our coping and resiliency skills.  We will also explore  and practice different self-compassion exercises and you will learn how to develop your own self-compassion practice.

Presenters: Beth Smetana & Martha Stolp

Session 2

Culturally- Sensitive Approach to Attachment Work with Families & Individuals

Attendees will learn and expand on knowledge of attachment and early childhood experiences as well as techniques and activities to do with children, families, and individuals to help build secure attachment. Additionally, attendees will be challenged to consider cultural factors that may not align with techniques, skills, and information often taught and encouraged by direct-care staff and clinicians, learned within a Euro-centric system.

Presenter: Daniela Guerrero

Session 3

Hand to heart: Building Relationships Through the Sense of Touch

Touch is a powerful relational tool—so simple yet highly complex, it provides us with our first understanding of ourselves and fosters trust in others. In this presentation, we will take an in-depth look at tactile processing and the intricate role it plays in relational development. Together, we will explore the neurobiological structure of the tactile system, how it functionally integrates with the other 7 senses, and connections to emotion and regulation. We will delve into cultural and societal values related to touch and the influence it has on our relationships. Finally, we will explore ways to individualize tactile strategies to meet caregiver identified dyadic goals.

Objectives:

• Participants will demonstrate understanding of the neurobiological structure of the tactile system as it relates to regulation, emotion, and attachment.

• Participants will explore the complexities culture and societal values play in relationships and the use of touch.

• Participants will explain how and why one might use tactile strategies to facilitate caregiver identified relational outcomes.

Presenter: Gretchen Crabb

Session 4

Complexity of Holding a Group: Conversations with Carol

Reflective Consultation with a group comes with many complexities and messiness.  As we “prepare to be unprepared” and remain curious about all that surfaces during a session, we feel more comfortable and confident that everything that happens during the group time can be beneficial and a professional growth experience for all.  Our role becomes the consultant/facilitator who is accepting of “where we are” and curious about where we may go forward, taking the time it may take.  Our feeling of pressure of needing to “fix” is lessened, and the process becomes more fluid and organic.  We can, indeed, “trust the process”.  Come prepared to share some of your own messy moments of confusion, as we explore how we might best stay present in those moments.

Presenter: Carol Noddings Eichinger

Session 5

State of the State: Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health in Wisconsin

This session will feature a panel of professionals from different IMH sectors: Mental Health, Home Visiting, Early Care and Education, Pediatrics/Public Health —to share current themes, challenges, new practices/resources, or changes in the work, and provide attendees with a better understanding of the state of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in Wisconsin.

Moderator & Presenters: Delechia Johnson; Annette Copa, Ashley Barlow, Jen Pefferti, Meredith Viatoli

Session 6

With Dignity: Intentional Connections with Fathers

Members of the Direct Assistance for Dad's (DAD) Project will examine social determinants that contribute to parenting outcomes of fathers where we will explore how intentional relationship building and improved practices increase engagement and completion of goals. Stories of fathers will be explored, offering insight of their journey and commitment to parenting education.

Objectives:

• Gain a basic understanding of general barriers some community of fathers face statewide

• Learn how improved practices for fatherhood home visiting programs contribute to the success of fathers

• Experience stories of the outcome of fathers through relationships and community collaboration

• Review facts around men’s general health and mental health

Presenter: David Comer & DAD Project Staff

Session 7

An Inter-Professional Approach to Diagnosis and Case Formulation using the DC:05™ Framework

Infant Mental Health (IMH) professionals understand that early childhood mental health and development occur within community, cultural and family contexts. Akin to this understanding, the DC:05 is a multifaceted diagnostic system used to identify mental health and developmental conditions in young children ages birth to 5. An interprofessional approach embedded in an IMH framework enhances application of the DC:05 and potentially promotes optimal outcomes.

This session is ideal for professionals in early intervention, OT, PT, speech/communication therapies, mental health, and health care who serve infants and young children and their families. During this fast paced, interactive session, participants will:

• Understand the multifaceted nature of the DC:05 diagnostic system.

• Comprehend the crosswalk between IMH and IPP competencies as related to the DC:05.

• Integrate and apply knowledge about the DC:05, IMH and IPP competencies using case vignettes.

Presenter: Julia Yeary & Kris Barnekow

Session 8

Infant Attachment and Bonding- How Play and Play Therapy Can Foster Our Earliest Relationships

At the end of the presentation, attendees should be able to:

• Define Infant Mental Health.

• Understand how FirstPlay® Infant Play Therapy can help aid building a healthy attachment and bond between infant and parent/caregiver.

• Discuss concrete ways to develop healthy attachment and bonding between infant and parent/caregiver.

Presenter: Candace Rutkowski

SESSION 9

Managing Difficulties that Arise in the Parallel Process When Working with Young Children and Families

This session acknowledges that work with young children and families can bring up a myriad of emotions and these emotions may be challenging to manage in the moment. We will explore the ways in which trauma, early experiences, and difficulty in parent regulation may lead to the parallel process of feeling overwhelmed in our work. Concepts such as co-regulation and polyvagal theory along with trauma-informed practices and practical tools to settle our nervous systems will be addressed in this session. Participants will be able to identify ways in which they can utilize a variety of tools to regulate themselves, parents and children in their work through avenues such as mindfulness, sensory strategies and the use of physical tools.

Learners will be able to:

• Identify 3 tools that the home visitor/provider can use in the moment to regulate themselves

• Identify 3 tools that they can leave with the family that will allow for regulation of the caregiver-child dyad.

Presenters: Melissa Haas

Session 10

Understanding the Intersection of Equity and Trauma: Perspectives on Power, Privilege, and Reflexivity in the Mental Health Setting

This workshop will explore key concepts within the areas of equity, historical trauma, collective trauma and colonization within the mental health setting. An initial primer on these concepts will be provided. Participants will gain an understanding of the role that power plays within the relationship between client and provider as well as the importance of self and organizational reflexivity. Participants will walk away with ways in which they can use collaborative discourse with clients and target populations to inform ethical practice and understand context.

Presenter: Melanie Heindl

SESSION 11

Nurturing Healthy Minds: An Introduction to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

In this workshop session we will explore what infant and early childhood mental health consultation is and the benefits it can bring to those working in early child care and education programs. Participants will learn about consultation through the lens and model of Healthy Minds Healthy Children (HMHC), WI-AIMH’s consultation program. We will give a brief summary and overview of the outcomes and evaluation results from the initial grant cycle for HMHC. Participants will gain an understanding of what consultation is and the impact it has on ECE providers, young children and their families through the use of case studies and discussion.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will gain an understanding of what infant and early childhood mental health consultation is.

• Participants will learn how infant and early childhood mental health consultation in early child care and education programs is implemented. ​

• Through the use of case scenarios and discussion, participants will learn how infant and early childhood mental health consultation improves outcomes for children, families, staff and programs.

• Participants will gain awareness of the Healthy Minds Healthy Children Program and learn more about the outcomes and benefits from this initiative.

Presenters: Ashley Bowers & Anne Konen

SESSION 12

A Moment to Think Out Loud: A Reflective Conversation Demonstration (Closed Session for RSC)

This is intended to be a moment for you to witness the muddling within the process of “thinking out loud.”  Carol Noddings Eichinger and Kathleen Hipke will explore an actual professional moment of confusion and clumsiness as they begin to unpeel the components of messiness to discover where to “shine the light” on possible next steps.  This will be unscripted and unrehearsed.  Carol will facilitate as the Reflective Consultant as she listens to Kathleen.  We encourage you to observe with curiosity, and wonder why we take the conversation the direction we do.  

Presenter: Carol Noddings Eichinger & Kathleen Hipke