Dear colleagues,
This is a letter of hope to you.
The Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health (CT-AIMH) and the greater infant mental health community, both appreciate all of you
as you continue in your roles as professional helpers
for our vulnerable population of infants, young children and their families, whatever your discipline may be.
We are holding you all in our minds during this time.
Due to the restrictions from the developing national public health situation surrounding COVID-19,
CT-AIMH has made the decision to postpone all trainings
that were scheduled in the upcoming weeks, at least through the end of April.
We also have decided to
postpone the CT-AIMH 2-day Spring Conference
, until September 15 & 16, 2020. The purpose of having our trainings and conferences in person is to promote connection, communication, and networking while advancing your knowledge and skills in IMH, but we now have to keep everyone safe and comply with the recommended social distancing and restrictions on large gatherings.
We have begun to think of other
ways to stay connected and informed within the IMH community.
We feel that we can help to prevent isolation, loss of connection and lack of access to resources during this time of distancing, by providing suggestions for virtual gatherings and other types professional development(PD).
We wish to continue to support you in your important work and want to let you know of some
FREE PD opportunities and resources
that you and your staff can take advantage of. While we are discouraged from meeting physically in large groups, CT-AIMH is suggesting that you can choose to meet using any online platforms (i.e. Skype, FaceTime, Google meets, Zoom, etc.) to further your PD, and continue learning and growing, by viewing IMH videos, modules, webinars or articles together and then having an online group discussion. We can stay connected and hold each other as a community, and gain strength with support of colleagues, and then we can be buffered from the stress and demands of this new way of being in our world.
This also extends out to the work you will continue to be doing with families. Even if it is done remotely, we all will be trying our best to
stay connected with families
to help reduce their stress. We recommend that you stay connected, and let them know that you are holding them in mind, and thinking about them and their situation. Regular phone calls, encouraging support, letters, recommendations for activities to do with their children, and help locating community supports/resources as the closings continue to happen. Below are a few resources for families as well.
Finally, we encourage you can
stay connected with your colleagues, family and friends
with a 3-minute dance party. Text friends, family and colleagues when you are feeling stressed and ask for a virtual 3-minute dance party-and then you all stop what you are doing and listen to any music of your choice and dance, knowing others are dancing with you(even if not in person)! Here are two videos that work well:
Take care and reach-out!!
Warmly,
Heidi Maderia, and the CT-AIMH BOD
PD and Resources listed alphabetically:
Early Care and Education and Infant/Toddler Care:
ECSU Online videos to view and discuss:
The Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut State University is pleased to let you know that we recently added 100 new clips to the Early Childhood Video Clip Library for Faculty and Trainers. The library now includes a searchable database of 400 clips designed to provide opportunities for awareness and reflection for those who work (or will work) with young children and families. Some clips illustrate examples of child development; others show exemplary teaching practices. The clips were selected to support professional preparation/development delivered by faculty, trainers, coaches, directors/administrators, and others who support adult learning. They range in length from about 20 seconds to a few minutes.
The clips can be searched by age, setting, developmental domain, content area, and/or a variety of more specific tags. If you haven’t visited the library in a few months, you’ll notice that we have a new, improved site, with thumbnails for each clip and improved search functionality.
For a limited time,
First3Years(Texas)
is excited to offer FREE instant access to our Online Educational Webinar Courses.
Early Intervention:
For a limited time,
First3Years(Texas)
is excited to offer FREE instant access to our Online Educational Webinar Courses.
Introducing Tele Intervention 101 -3 online Training webinars: about
the provision of early intervention services via teleconferencing technology
Child Welfare:
Introducing Tele Intervention 101 -3 online Training webinars: about
the provision of early intervention services via teleconferencing technology
Clinicians, Mental and Behavioral Health:
Harvard Health Services (on managing fears and anxiety):
Introducing Tele Intervention 101 -3 online Training webinars: about
the provision of early intervention services via teleconferencing technology
National Association of Social Workers:
Higher Education:
ECSU Online videos to view and discuss
:
The Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut State University is pleased to let you know that we recently added 100 new clips to the Early Childhood Video Clip Library for Faculty and Trainers. The library now includes a searchable database of 400 clips designed to provide opportunities for awareness and reflection for those who work (or will work) with young children and families. Some clips illustrate examples of child development; others show exemplary teaching practices. The clips were selected to support professional preparation/development delivered by faculty, trainers, coaches, directors/administrators, and others who support adult learning. They range in length from about 20 seconds to a few minutes.
The clips can be searched by age, setting, developmental domain, content area, and/or a variety of more specific tags. If you haven’t visited the library in a few months, you’ll notice that we have a new, improved site, with thumbnails for each clip and improved search functionality.
Faculty who are moving courses online for the next few weeks may find it especially useful to provide students with links to videos to spark discussions in whatever online format you’re currently using. (Access to the library is free. The original library was developed with support from the CT Office of Early Childhood.)
Homelessness:
National Center on Homelessness:
A workbook for those who work with others
National Alliance to End Homelessness:
Home visiting:
Online modules for
Home Visitors
in English and Spanish(CT-AIMH):
For a limited time,
First3Years(Texas)
is excited to offer FREE instant access to our Online Educational Courses.
Introducing Tele Intervention 101 -3 online Training webinars: about
the provision of early intervention services via teleconferencing technology
Maternal Health:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC):
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
CDC
:Healthcare Providers Working with Pregnant Women:
Pediatricians, nurses and other medical professionals:
Pediatric Nutrition:
Who is at risk and how can we help?
Presented by: Kimberly C. Brown, MD, FAAP
B
oston Children’s Hospital:
Resources for all “helping” professionals:
Free to those who are
members of ZERO TO THREE:
CT 211
Systems and policy professionals:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
CDC:
Child Trends:
Resources for families:
A children’s book in Spanish
Gizmo book (English and Spanish):
Gizmo's Pawesome Guide to Mental Health
is a great free resource to help you and your kids with your sad, mad and worried feelings during this tough time. And, this link has fun activities you and your kids can do alone or together inside and outside:
https://www.gizmo4mentalhealth.org/forkids/
The online book is here in
English
or
Spanish
,
and you can order free print copies too. Note: free quantities are limited to a max of 4 outside CT. To order print copies,
click here.
Teaching Strategies: (activities):
American Academy of Pediatrics
Child Mind Institute:
Harvard:
Helping children cope video
Kids Health
:
National Child Traumatic Stress Network:
In English-
National Public Radio (NPR):
Just for Kids: A comic exploring the new coronavirus
Public Broadcasting System (PBS):
How to talk to your kids about coronavirus
Zero to Three:
Tips for Families talking about the Coronavirus:
Why are people wearing masks?
Zero to Thrive:
Blog post from the HOPE project:
Quarantine or Isolation Articles:
The Atlantic:
Louisiana State University:
Zero to Three:
CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19):
Zero to Three:
*Please note: CT-AIMH is simply passing on a few of the materials/resources that we are aware of and CT-AIMH in no way endorses or prefers any of these materials/resources over others. We urge you to use your own discretion about the appropriateness of using any of the above materials/resources.
