Abby Halloran, LCSW, IMH-E® is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice at Creating Space in Madison, where she provides psychotherapy for young children, families, and adults. Abby specializes in working with families who have experienced trauma and is drawn to supporting caregivers of all kinds. She is nationally rostered as a clinician and supervisor in Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and is endorsed as a Wisconsin CPP Trainer. Abby has a Master’s degree in Social Work, is a graduate of the UW Infant, Early Childhood, and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program and is endorsed by the Wisconsin Alliance of Infant Mental Health as an Infant Mental Health Mentor. She provides Reflective Supervision, Consultation, and Mentoring to professionals working in mental health, early childhood education, and home visiting.

Anne Konen, MS, LSW, I/ECMH-C, is the Program Manager for Healthy Minds Healthy Children at the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health. Before this, she worked for two years as the Workforce Development Manager for Caregiver Connections in Illinois. She is a licensed social worker with over 20 years of experience in the areas of child welfare, early intervention, family support, and early childhood education. Anne was an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant in Chicago for over ten years where she worked directly with child care providers, center staff, and home-based family child care providers, to promote and support social-emotional development, understand behaviors and developmental needs of children, and prevent challenging behavior in young children ages birth to five years old. This work involved providing consultation and observation, sharing information and resources, supporting communication and relationship building with families, and education and training. In her role with Caregiver Connections, she supported the onboarding and professional development of mental health consultants across the state. Anne is the mother of two school-age children and two cats, one of whom loves to make appearances at virtual meetings. She and her family enjoy spending time outside, having game/movie nights, and traveling to see family and friends. Anne is dedicated to strengthening the Infant Mental Health workforce by building the capacity of professionals who support young children and families. She is driven by curiosity, community, and making a meaningful impact.

Briana Kurlinkus is a seasoned Early Childhood Specialist with over 27 years of dedicated experience in early childhood education. With a strong educational foundation and a passion for lifelong learning, Briana has worked with children from birth through school age, as well as with families and professionals across a variety of settings.

Throughout her career, Briana has served in diverse roles—including educator, program director, behavior coach, parent educator, and consultant—across both traditional and non-traditional early childhood settings. She is deeply committed to creating inclusive, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environments that promote the mental health and social-emotional well-being of infants, young children, and their families. Grounded in trauma-informed care, reflective practice, and strong family partnerships, her work centers on supporting whole-child development through equitable, relationship-based approaches.

In addition to her extensive professional work, Briana is a passionate advocate for whole-child development, culturally responsive teaching, and meaningful family engagement. She currently consults with schools, childcare centers, and community organizations, offering customized training and support through collaboration and shared learning to ensure that every child, educator, and family feel recognized, respected and intentionally supported.

Briana is a respected and engaging presenter known for delivering dynamic, research-based professional development for educators and families. Her presentations focus on key topics such as:

Carrie Young, MSW, worked in home visiting for 12 years. Throughout that time, she took on the roles of trainer, supervisor, and consultant. She joined the WCWPDS Team in March of 2021. Ashley has her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work as well as a certificate in Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health. Since the beginning of her career Ashley has been a champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Challenging the systems in which she works with the goals of creating healthy and safe work environments for people of marginalized groups as well as the communities served.

Darlene Grant,— Bio Coming Soon…

Deborah O’Connor, LCSW, IECMH-E®,is an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant at Children’s Wisconsin. In this role, she partners with teams and individual providers to strengthen their capacity to support infants, young children, and their families.  Deb’s career has centered on serving vulnerable children and communities across child welfare, early intervention, and family support settings.

Since joining Children’s Wisconsin, Deb has also worked as both a medical social worker and a Child and Family Therapist. She specializes in working with infants, toddlers, and their caregivers and is Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health-Endorsed. She is committed to promoting relational health, strengthening family resilience, and supporting those who care for our youngest children.

Delechia Johnson, MS in ECE, has 29 years of extensive training and professional experience in the field of early care and education as a master trainer in the state. She has worked in the field in various roles from a volunteer, director, educational coordinator, mentor, instructional coach, teacher and consultant. She is a professional who has been recognized as effective and impactful by her colleagues and the ECE community. Delechia has established positive relationships over the years with many of the early care and education programs through providing training and consultation for many of those programs in the Milwaukee and outlying counties. She received her Master’s of Science in Early Childhood from Erikson Institute in 2018.

Golshan Motamedi, LMFT, IMH-E®,— Bio Coming Soon…

Jen Perfetti, LPC, IMHM-C, is a founding leader of the UW Center for Innovations in Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and core faculty with the Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program. Jen completed her clinical training in Counseling Psychology at Northwestern University and is a Licensed Counselor and an Endorsed Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor. She founded Luna Perinatal Counseling in 2005, a psychotherapy practice focused on serving individuals and couples during the pregnancy, postpartum and early parenting periods. Jen has also worked with Public Health Madison and Dane County for over a decade, providing Reflective Mental Health Consultation throughout the organization. Jen offers professional development to clinicians, home visitors and other early intervention providers in efforts to increase supports focused on maternal mental health and parent-child relationships in underserved communities across the state. She lives in Madison and has two young-adult children who continue to guide her in her work every day.

Julie Clark brings 37 years of supporting children, families and teachers in public school education - as an Early Childhood Special Education teacher, a Lead Teacher, and as an Early Childhood Program Support Teacher in Northwest Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education and a Master’s degree in Special Education- Intellectual Disabilities. In 2005, Julie was asked to join a list of train-the-trainers for the “The Pyramid Model for Social and Emotional Competence." The content, strategies and ideals were a perfect fit for her personal and professional philosophy. After 5 years of training others, Julie went on to co-coordinate Wisconsin’s efforts. Julie continues to serve as the State Coordinator for Wisconsin’s implementation of the Pyramid Model for Social Emotional Competence. A fifth-generation Wisconsinite, Julie is proud, humbled and inspired by the trainers, coaches, leaders, teachers, facilitators and families who are working to ensure Wisconsin is a better place to be a small child.

Kathleen N. Hipke, PhD, is Co-Director of the Center for Innovations in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Hipke is an Assistant Professor and licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience and expertise in perinatal, infant, and early childhood mental health. She is especially interested in program development and educational and professional training opportunities that expand the workforce to provide high quality, therapeutic support to infants/very young children and their families, particularly those who have experienced trauma. Dr. Hipke currently serves as the Faculty Director of UW Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program for multi-disciplinary professionals; directs clinical service and medical education in the UW Department of Psychiatry via the Parent Infant Early Childhood Clinic; leads an Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Team to UW campus Early Care and Education; co-directs state-wide training in trauma-informed Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) to licensed mental health clinicians seeking to implement empirically supported interventions for children 0-5 years of age who have experienced trauma and their caregivers; and is active with community engaged program development, evaluation and research related to the reduction of health disparities in maternal and infant health. Dr. Hipke earned her doctoral degree from Arizona State University, completed psychology internship training at Children’s Hospital in Chicago in the Department of Psychiatry at Northwestern University, and postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin, Department of Psychiatry. She carries the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® as a Clinical Mentor.

Kris Barnekow, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, IMH-E®, serves as Continuous Quality Improvement Lead at WI-AIMH and Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). She received a baccalaureate degree in Occupational Therapy from UWM, a master’s of science degree in Human Learning and Development, and a doctorate of philosophy in the Therapeutic Science track, Department of Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The focus of her dissertation was maternal-infant attunement, and this research was guided by Kraemer’s Psychobiological Attachment Theory where she focused on infant capacities that fostered attunement with their mother. As an occupational therapist, Kris served children and families in the Wisconsin Birth to Three Program. In 2023, she was nominated to the American Occupational Therapy Roster of Fellows for Pioneering Occupational Therapy’s role in infant mental health. Kris holds endorsement as an Infant Family Specialist, Endorsed Reflective Supervisor.

Lauren Gourley, MSW, IMH-E®, PMH-C, is a licensed clinical social worker in La Crosse, Wisconsin, specializing in perinatal and early childhood mental health. Her clinical work centers on supporting infants, young children, and caregivers experiencing developmental, relational, and emotional challenges, with particular focus on the parent–child relationship and the transition to parenthood. Beyond clinical practice, Lauren is deeply committed to nurturing fellow helping professionals through reflective consultation and supervision.

Lisa Garlie has been in the Early Childhood profession for 20+ years. She has held multiple positions in the Early Childhood profession including Assistant Teacher, Lead Teacher, Administrative Assistant, Instructional Coach, and Education Manager. In her most recent job, she had the opportunity to deepen her understanding of the Head-Start Performance Standards and the State of Wisconsin’s Licensing Regulations. Her skills include looking at data to see what the next steps could/should be in programming, collaboration with other identities inside and outside of an organization, the ability to see the global parts to a situation when making decisions, building a team and the importance of having a team, time management/organization and many others.

Marlow Fowlkes-Ware is an IECMHC Mentor for the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH).  She joins the WI-AIMH team with over 30 years of direct experience working with children and families. Before starting with WI-AIMH in February 2023, Marlow worked for Aurora Family Services, Milwaukee Mental Health Consultants, and brings more than seven years of experience working as a Reflective Practice Mental Health Consultant and Marriage and Family Therapist. In her early career, she worked in a variety of direct service positions at agencies such as the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Sensitive Crimes Unit of Victim Services - Office of the District Attorney, Kids Matter Inc., and the Milwaukee County Mobile Urgent Treatment Team (MUTT). Her expertise involves working with children and families impacted by crime, violence, and trauma.

Marlow is a Milwaukee native, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Marquette University and her Master’s Degree in Social work from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She also received her postgraduate Marriage and Family Therapy certificate from the Family Therapy Training Institute in Wisconsin, a COAMFTE-accredited program. Marlow values family. She is most passionate about supporting, educating, and helping caregivers expand their capacity to think reflectively about their work and their relationships with children and families.

Martha Stolp, MS, LPC, has been working with children and families for the last 17 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked for the last 10 years as Mental Health Consultant for Early Childhood, birth through age 5. Martha obtained her bachelor's degree Human Development and Family Studies, Child development and Education, in 2010 from University of Missouri. She worked as a preschool teacher and nanny while obtaining her degree and continued to do so through obtaining her master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UW-Stout in 2016. She worked as a Child and Family Therapist at Children’s Wisconsin, specializing in working with young children and trauma, as well as Mental Health Consultant for Head Start, until 2022 when she opened her own practice. Since her practice opened in 2022, she has primarily worked as a Mental Health Consultant for various early childhood programs in her immediate and surrounding communities. Currently Martha works to support WI-AIMH's Outreach and Community Engagement efforts. Martha is passionate about advocating for children, families, and early childhood staff. She values relationships, connectedness, and play! Her mission is to help grow healthy connections in families, schools, and communities through fun, creative, and reflective space. She is a mother of two beautiful and silly girls as well as a very fluffy Golden retriever. Her family enjoys playing outside, movie nights and visiting extended family. Martha hopes to integrate mental health in fun creative ways into her own community as she grows her work in the field of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.

Nicole Robinson, LCSW, IECMH-E®, received her MSW in Social work from the University of Loyola Chicago in 2018 and is endorsed as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist. While employed with Children’s Wisconsin, Nicole worked predominantly with children and families from underserved communities through treatment, foster care and mental health consultation. Currently, Nicole is an early childhood mental health consultant with Children’s IECMH consultation program. Nicole serves multiple systems within that role including Milwaukee Public schools, Headstart, daycares, hospital and clinic settings, and school/foster care intervention partnership.

Rosalva— Bio Coming Soon…

Roseanne— Bio Coming Soon…

Dr. Rosemarie Allen currently serves as Professor of Early Childhood in the School of Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver, Associate Professor of Practice with the Children’s Equity Project at Arizona State University, and faculty member with the Pyramid Model Consortium. Dr. Allen is also the Founder, President, and CEO for the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence (IREE) where she works tirelessly to dismantle systemic barriers that hinder the success of children and families of color. Through research, training, and advocacy, IREE equips educators with the tools and knowledge needed to address racial inequities in early childhood education. Her unwavering commitment to providing quality education for all children, regardless of their background or circumstances, has made her a leading figure in the profession. Dr. Allen's impact extends far beyond the classroom. She is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and facilitator, sharing her expertise and insights at on local news stations, government agencies, corporations, business organizations and national and international conferences. Her thought-provoking presentations challenge conventional wisdom and inspire educators to question their own biases and assumptions. Dr. Allen's ability to connect with her audience on a personal level fosters a sense of urgency and collective responsibility to create a more equitable and just society.

Dr. Roxy Etta, PhD, LCSW, retired in 2016 as the Program Director for the Early Childhood Professional Development Program for the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She continues to work as a clinical consultant and core faculty for the Infant, Early Childhood, and Family Mental Health Capstone Program for the Department of Psychiatry at UW-Madison. She currently provides Reflective Supervision to both current and former Fellows in the Capstone Program at UW-Madison, as well as on the West Coast in Portland, Oregon where she has recently moved. She has worked with Birth to 3 providers, Home Visitors, Early Care and Education teachers, Reflective Consultants through Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health, and numerous clinicians. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and provided mental health services to families and young children in both home-based settings and clinics. She is certified as an Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor- IMH-E® (IV-C) and as a Child Parent Psychotherapist and continues to be committed to finding ways to soften the repercussions of trauma and shine some light into the darkest corners.

Samantha L. Wilson, PhD, IMH-E®, is Professor of Pediatrics in the division of Pediatric Psychology and Developmental Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Director of the International Adoption Clinic at Children's Wisconsin. Licensed as a Clinical Psychologist since 2008, she provides trauma-informed, relationship-based assessment and intervention to children, teens, and families formed by adoption and foster care. She is credentialed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor (Clinical) and is a Wisconsin state trainer for trauma-informed Child Parent Psychotherapy. Her academic publications cover adoption, institutional care, and social-emotional development. In 2025, she was honored by the Coalition for Children, Youth, and Families as a "Coalition Champion" for her long-standing work within Wisconsin's foster care and adoption community.

Sarah Strong, MSSW, LCSW, IMH-E®,is the Program Director of the UW Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program, the Wisconsin Child-Parent Psychotherapy Training Program and the Newborn Behavioral Observations System Training Site. All three programs are housed within the Center for Innovations in Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She also serves on the Center’s Executive Committee. Sarah has worked in the mental health field for over thirty years as a psychotherapist, reflective consultant and educator specializing in parent-infant and early childhood mental health and holds the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® as a Clinical Mentor. She is on the national roster of Child-Parent Psychotherapy providers and is a Wisconsin state CPP trainer. She is also endorsed by the Brazelton Institute at Boston Children’s Hospital as a trainer in the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) System.

Staci Sontoski is a human services leader with over 25 years of experience dedicated to family support and workforce development, with a career rooted in direct service as a home visitor, Family Resource Center (FRC) Director, and manager of a licensed center for a Crisis Nursery. She currently serves as the Manager of the Professional Development Network (PDN) for the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where she leads statewide training initiatives, prevention efforts, and systems-level transitions.

A recognized expert in relational and communication frameworks, Staci is the Lead FAN (Facilitating Attuned Interactions) trainer for Wisconsin and a certified trainer in both Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability. She is also a PIWI (Parents Interacting with Infants) trainer and a contributing author to the book Uniting Infant Mental Health and the Pyramid Model. Throughout her work, Staci remains committed to integrating best practices across the field and ensuring that the professionals supporting Wisconsin’s families have the tools they need to thrive.

Stephanie Kirklin is a certified pediatric and adult sleep consultant and the owner of Pillowhead Sleep Training, where she helps families build healthy, sustainable sleep habits for babies, toddlers, children, and adults. She is certified through the Institute of Pediatric Sleep and Parenting as well as The Spencer Institute, and The Newborn Care Solutions Institute and has additional training in newborn sleep, and baby sign language. Stephanie’s approach is responsive, evidence-based, and tailored to each child’s temperament and each family’s goals.

With a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and a background in teaching and administration, Stephanie is passionate about supporting both parents and caregivers with realistic, developmentally appropriate sleep strategies. She specializes in working with infants and toddlers and enjoys helping families navigate common challenges such as night waking, short naps, early rising, schedule transitions, and sleep regressions.

Through consultations, workshops, and parent education events, Stephanie provides practical tools that help children sleep better while strengthening the parent-child relationship.