CEU Institute Session: Building Strong Beginnings: Social Work and Infant Mental Health in Practice

Description:

This session provides an introduction to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH), including its core principles and relevance across a range of mental health settings. Designed for social work CEU participants, the session highlights how IECMH-informed approaches can be applied across diverse roles and practice contexts. Participants will explore practical examples that illustrate how IECMH supports young children and their caregivers. The training also includes an overview of reflective practice and reflective supervision, emphasizing how these strategies strengthen providers’ ability to offer responsive, relationship-based care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the core principles of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH).

2. Identify ways IECMH-informed approaches can be applied across diverse practice contexts.

3. Explain the role of reflective practice and reflective supervision in supporting effective, relationship-based care.

Presenter Bios:

Alysse Loomis, PhD is a licensed clinical social worker and Associate Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating trauma-informed early childhood systems to promote well-being for young children who have experienced adversity and trauma. Alysse also teaches courses on trauma-informed interventions and human development and is co-Project Director of a federally funded infant mental-health training grant for social work and early-intervention graduate students.

Erica Murdoch is a licensed clinical social worker and graduate of the U’s MSW program. She is passionate about infant and early childhood mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention and holds an early childhood mental health endorsement. Her recent work includes providing evidence based treatment to young children and their families, providing reflective supervision to student interns, and supporting research and teaching endeavors at the U related to infant and early childhood mental health.