Strengthening the Supports:

Enriching the ‘everyday leaders’ who support

the mental health and well-being of young children and families

The inaugural gathering of the Todd Ouida Children’s Foundation Annual Conference,

in partnership with:

Strengthening the Supports welcomes the everyday leaders of our communities, nurses, clergy, early educators, home visitors, and community organizers, among others, to a day of clinical conversation, connection with each other, and crucial opportunities for self-care. 

Focusing on the field of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, an interdisciplinary field of study and practice concerned with the optimal development of the child within the context of the family, we expect to impart knowledge about early mental health concerns in families which are often first recognized by or brought to workers within these disciplines.  We also will recognize the important contributions made by these workers in responding to the mental health needs of infants, children and families.  In addition, we intend to learn from each other’s rich and diverse experience by sharing knowledge and making connections between these traditionally varied and separated disciplines. Lastly, we hope to provide a space for self-care, as we know that time for reflection and care of the self is crucial for best practice and career longevity in this work. 

Join us as we welcome, honor, and strengthen you, the everyday leaders who support our young families! 

[CEU's may be available for some professions.  Please contact caecmh@montclair.edu for more information.]

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

8:00-8:30 am:              Breakfast, registration, introductions and connections

8:30–8:40 am:             Herb Ouida, Co-Founder: Todd Ouida Children’s Foundation – Transforming Tragedy into Hope

8:40–9:00 am:             Gerard Costa, Ph.D., Director, CAECMH – Why Infant Mental Health

Matters to Us All

9:00–9:30 am:             Bob McGrath, Music Teacher: Sesame Street - Singing to the Choir

9:30-10:45 am:            Keynote speaker: Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong, Pastor: Shiloh Baptist Church- How to “Bless” Your Baby – An Examination of How Houses of Worship Can Engage in Home Visiting and Family Engagement

10:45-11:00 am:          Break

11:00-11:45 am:          Pat Stanislaski, Partnering for Prevention: Resilience – A Gift We Give

Ourselves and Others

11:45-12:00 pm:          Kaitlin Mulcahy, LPC, Associate Director, CAECMH – Strategies for Self-

Care: Helping Those Who Help Others

12:00 – 1:00 pm:         Lunch

1:00 – 1:45 pm:           Sunday Gustin, RN, MPH, Administrator, Office of Early Childhood

Services of DPCP-DCF: Home Visiting – Making a Difference by Partnering with Families during Pregnancy, Infancy and Early Childhood

1:45-3:00 pm:              Panel Discussion and Q&A: Moderated by Dr. Gerard Costa: The integration of infant and family mental health in everyday practice

3:00-3:30 pm:              Coffee, Community and Conversation