In this issue:

Message from Executive Director

Be a Voice for Babies

Book Launch Event

Upcoming PD Events

In Case You Missed It: Conference Keynote

Data Corner

Pyramid Model News

Endorsement News

WI-AIMH Recognizes...

Community News & Events

May is a special month. It has been for me forever.



It is the time of spring in full bloom, it is a beautiful season to acknowledge motherhood. May smells like blooming lilacs and warm rain.

May is also my birthday month. This year, I will turn 50, which means I’ve lived half of my life in the last century and half of it in the current one. It appears that it is the right moment to consider balance and yet the recent times have been chaotic, unsettling, confusing, and upsetting.

How do we find balance during such times? Is it even possible? What can help ground us?

I find going back to my personal values and beginnings helpful. I think remembering the “why,” not just the “what,” of the work matters particularly now:

Why are we here?

What is our purpose?

How can we help make this world better for now and for the future?

How can we nurture ourselves so we are not drained and empty, cold and unavailable?

What brings us joy (even a little bit of it)?

How can we share that with others?

Several weeks ago, I had a privilege of attending the National Training Institute on Addressing Challenging Behaviors. The keynote speaker, Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu (daughter of the late South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu) focused her talk on shared humanity. I found her words deeply meaningful especially now when the world feels so divided. She shared an old African proverb: “In the flood, the wise build bridges and the fools build walls.” She talked about community, connection, compassion. We are in the times of "the flood.” So, let’s find ways to build bridges, to connect with others, to find our community, and not lose our voices.

This means, we need to find calm in the middle of it all. We need to create opportunities to replenish and rest, because the days are hard. May this May bring you comfort and a little ease. May you feel loved and find joy. May you feel acknowledged for the hard and meaningful work you are doing to take care of and support others. May you feel peace.

Sincerely,

Lana

We want as many voices as possible to talk about prevention and infant/early childhood mental health. It is so critical to make sure our voices are heard for the health of our babies, children, families and Wisconsin's future. Please feel free to share this as widely as possible: Share with your colleagues, with the programs you serve, with community representatives and families.

"The Governor's Interagency Council on Mental Health brings together 10 state agencies to create a statewide action plan to address Wisconsin's mental health crisis. To improve and support the mental health of all Wisconsinites, we must take a "whole of government" approach." Learn More!

Strong Start Wisconsin Releases New Advocacy Flyer

Strong Start Wisconsin is a new, non-partisan, pro-child coalition of statewide and local organizations, dedicated to the wholistic wellbeing of children from prenatal to five, in the greater context of their family and community.

Feel free to send this flyer to your senator and representative. Please point out that one of three priorities listed by the coalition is Healthy Minds Healthy Children, Wisconsin's Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program.

*Click image to download.

Contact your elected officials today to ensure they understand the critical importance of the first five years and significance of infant mental health. Tell them we have solutions that work to ensure a strong foundation.

How to Email Your Elected Officials:

We've put together an email template for you to use. Please feel free to add to it or adapt it to your preference. Access the template here, and send it to your local elected officials. Ask them to include Healthy Minds Healthy Children, Wisconsin's Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program, in the State Budget for the next biennium.

To learn who represents you, please use the following link: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/.

Visit our Speak for Wisconsin Babies webpage for additional information and resources!

Join us for a dynamic discussion with two of the editors of Uniting Infant Mental Health and the Pyramid Model, Lana Shklyar Nenide, MS & Kate Sweeney, MSW, to explore the book's core concepts and practical applications. Infant Mental Health (IMH) and the Pyramid Model (PM) are two frameworks with an important common goal: supporting the mental health and social and emotional development of infants, young children, and their families. Now one book integrates these two frameworks to create a more effective, knowledgeable, and responsive early childhood workforce. Join us to learn more about best practices to ensure optimal outcomes and ask your questions. Register & join! 

Virtual Event ~ May 22nd ~ FREE! ~ 1PM CST / 2PM EST

“This book is a generous invitation to consider how intentionally bridging these two frameworks of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) and the Pyramid Model benefits not only babies, toddlers, and young children, but also the families and adults and the systems that were created to serve them.” —Meghan Schmelzer, LMSW, IECMH E®, Senior IECMH Policy Manager, ZERO TO THREE

The event is free, but registration is required.

Are You Registered?

Become a WI-AIMH Member today and save on events & trainings!

Nurturing Potential Workshop

See flyer for details:

Click here/image to download.

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May 21st

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Virtual

FREE for Members | $15 Non-members

WI-AIMH's Consultant Institute

See flyer for details:

Click here/image to download.

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June 17th & 18th

Starts at 12 PM on the 17th

Ends at 3 PM on the 18th

Virtual

$20 for Members | $40 Non-members

Infant Massage Training

See flyer for details:

Click here/image to download.

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June 24th & July 22nd

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Virtual

$15 for Members | $30 Non-members

2025-2026 Application is Open for Reflective Supervision Learning Collaborative

See flyer for details:

Click here/image to download.

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Hurry! Deadline Approaching:

June 1st

WI-AIMH offered a Book Study to IMH clinicians and consultants using the book, “Playing for Keeps” by Carol Noddings Eichinger. The goal for the book study was to learn together and share experiences, while enhancing professional development and growth. The book study was rated highly by participants, and facilitators agreed that this was a good use of time that facilitated connection and fostered professional development. 

Click image to download/enlarge.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING:

• Participants indicated that the book club helped them apply ideas, thoughts and techniques through connection and meaning making.
• The book study reinforced principles of infant mental health and enhanced reflective capacity.
• Engaging with like-minded professionals enhanced self-confidence in the work.

Want to Purchase the Book?

"Playing for Keeps" can be purchased through WI-AIMH.

WI-AIMH Program News📰

Pyramid Model

PM Team at the National Training Institute

Pyramid Model staff attended the National Training Institute (NTI): Addressing Challenging Behavior, a national Pyramid Model Conference in April. 



WI-AIMH Staff presented at three sectionals as well as provided a poster showcasing Pyramid Model work in Wisconsin. 

The presentations were: 

• Community Driven Pyramid Model Sustainability and Scale-Up
• Create, Care, Connect: Exploring Playmate Preference to Promote Connection 
• Ethical Data Collection Practices to Support Meaningful Conversations

Launching 23rd Cohort of Program-Wide Implementation

Wisconsin Pyramid Model is launching its 23rd Cohort of Program-Wide Implementation in August 2025! If you, or a program you know, are interested in becoming a Pyramid Model program-wide implementation site, please contact your regional lead for more information.

Applications for this cohort are due by June 30th.

Endorsement®

Congratulations to Our New Endorsees!

Endorsed Reflective Supervisor Add-On

Earlier this year, we were excited to announce the Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on becoming available to all categories of Endorsement®. This change is critical to expanding reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) capacity across the infant and early childhood workforce. The Alliance is finalizing the necessary updates in the Endorsement® Application System (EASy) to prepare for the official roll-out.



Do you currently provide reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) to infant & early childhood professionals? Are you interested in becoming a provider of RSC? You may wish to explore how the Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) add-on can fit into your professional goals.

Ready to dive into ERS?

Download Competency Guidelines (which include the requirements) for ERS here.

WI-AIMH has two offerings that can support your pursuit of the ERS add-on:

>> WI-AIMH’s Consultant Institute June 17-18, 2025 This event will address Competencies for Endorsement® and can be counted towards the “Provision of RSC” training requirement

>> WI-AIMH’s Reflective Supervision Learning Collaborative Aug 2025 - July 2026 During this year-long training program, you will learn how to provide RSC while receiving it yourself. The training and RSC hours built into the RSLC can support professionals in fulfilling requirements for initial Endorsement®, ERS and renewal!

*Click image to download flyer and access links.

WI-AIMH Recognizes

Mental Health Awareness Month

To learn more about mental health resources, click here!

Happy Belated Mother’s Day! 💐

We send love to all the incredible mothers and mother figures—single moms, those expecting babies, grandmothers and new moms. To those who miss their moms, those missing their children, stepmoms and those navigating complex relationships with their moms, we honor your strength, love and resilience. You are all seen, appreciated, and loved. ❤️

Community News & Events

A Summer Social for Moms!

Our partners at Moms Mental Health Initiative are hosting their annual Summer Social on May 31st 9am-12pm at Wilson Park in Milwaukee!

Moms Mental Health Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping moms navigate perinatal mental health conditions by sharing information, connecting them to resources, and providing peer-driven support. This child and family friendly Summer Social is MMHI's main fundraising event. While their work is primarily virtual, each year, they invite the community to come together to celebrate and honor the work their participants have done to find healing through perinatal mental health conditions. For community businesses and organizations, it's a chance to recognize moms and illustrate your commitment to supporting and uplifting them. As a local nonprofit, all funds raised at this event stay in our community to help neighbors and friends navigate perinatal mental health conditions.

Questions and sponsorship opportunities may be directed to: Casey@mmhimke.org.

UW is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 University of Wisconsin Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program!

The UW Capstone Certificate Program is an interdisciplinary one-year academic program for graduate credit designed for professionals who provide relationship-based services to families in the perinatal period and/or families of children ages birth through five years, supervisors and consultants. This program is for licensed mental health clinicians and health care practitioners in nursing, pediatrics, family medicine and psychiatry and professionals from Home Visiting, Birth to 3, Early Childhood Special Education, Early Head Start, Head Start, Childcare and Child Protective Services/Child Welfare. 

Apply by May 19, 2025 for early consideration for admission and scholarships.

Click here to download the information flyer.

Click here to apply!

Questions:

For questions about the application process, please contact:

Bryn Abramson, BS Administrative Assistant, at babramson3@wisc.edu.

Connect with WI-AIMH on your favorite social media accounts!

WI-AIMH | 6213 Middleton Springs Dr., Ste 204, Middleton, WI 53703 | (608) 442-0360 | www.wiaimh.org