South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association

The early years are the most important ones! ?? Lay the foundation for healthy development with emotionally nourishing relationships. ??

Our CEO Kerrie Schnake was recently in Anaheim, CA for a conference. She presented at the National Association for Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE) and attended the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) conference. At the NAEYC conference, our publisher, Teacher College Press, had a booth and hosted a book signing! Check out her book that she co-wrote! You can get your copy at the link below and join the discussion on improving teacher well-being in early childhood education. https://lnkd.in/eNUhkUYK

Looking for an introduction to the online Endorsement Application System (EASy)? Join us on Thursday, November 26 for a virtual walkthrough of all the aspects of the online application. To register: https://lnkd.in/eXW2R3zr

We are so excited to be joining Children's Trust in their video about family resource centers across the state. Stay tuned...full video coming soon! ??

We are committed to advancing infant and early childhood mental health across the state.?? Our goal is to help infant and early childhood professionals hone their skills and strengthen their expertise through trainings, endorsement, certifications, and more! ?? To learn more about our professional development opportunities head to https://lnkd.in/eRD84xJk

Calling all infant and early childhood professionals: Join us on Thursday, November 21 at 10 AM for our November Endorsement 101 Session! In this one-hour session, you will learn about endorsement credentials and the endorsement process. Questions about endorsement? Hop on our Endorsement Office Hours (right after Endorsement 101) at 11 AM on November 21! To register: https://lnkd.in/eR-Pvwr7

Safe Babies Court is changing the future of the child welfare system. The mission of South Carolina Safe Babies Court is to promote expedited permanency, empowerment and positive outcomes for parents, infants, and toddlers by transforming child welfare and court processes through practices that center the mental health needs of babies. To learn more about Safe Babies Court, go to https://lnkd.in/ekbPtVxQ

Join us on Thursday, November 21 for this month’s Third Thursday Webinar - Facing a Broken System: Addressing Suspensions and Expulsions of Young Black Children in South Carolina During the webinar you will: ??Gain insights into the prevalence and impact of discriminatory suspension and expulsion practices in preschool settings within South Carolina, with a specific focus on Charleston. ??Explore the underlying factors contributing to disproportionate suspension and expulsion rates among Black preschoolers. ??Discuss recommendations, strategies for educators, administrators, and policymakers to implement more inclusive and supportive practices in preschools, promoting equity and reducing the risk of suspension and expulsion. Click here to save your spot: https://lnkd.in/eRXWVzAY Our presenters: Dr. Melodie Baker?? Dr. Melodie Baker is the Executive Director and Founder of ImpactSTATS Inc., a nonprofit policy and research organization dedicated to advancing equitable policies in early childhood and K-12 education through data-driven research and community-centered advocacy. Recognized nationally as an education leader and advocate, Melodie leverages her expertise to drive substantial and meaningful change. Her contributions to the field are evident through numerous authored articles, op-eds, and reports on early childhood development, mathematics and policy in higher education. Her research illuminates critical issues and offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners alike. Beyond her day-day work, Melodie actively participates in various national and state-wide councils, including Raising New York and The Equity Coalition for the Education Trust New York. She also holds positions on the SUNY Erie Board of Trustees (Vice Chair), First Hand Learning, Launch New York, and was recently appointed to serve on Governor Hochul's Early Childhood Advisory Council. Melodie earned her PhD in Educational Psychology and Quantitative Methods from the University at Buffalo. She also holds an advanced graduate certificate in Applied Statistical Analysis, a Master's in Executive Leadership and Change from Daemen University, and a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Buffalo State University. Dr. Claire Cameron?? Dr. Claire Cameron PhD, holds the title of Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo. She is an internationally-recognized expert in how young children develop self-regulation – that is, how they navigate their thoughts, feelings, and actions; and how learning environments and educators can support children. She currently teaches online courses in mixed research methods and dissertation writing. Finally, she is a proud and always-learning parent of a 2nd-grader with a significant disability.

Thank you to the Calhoun County Library for including Help Me Grow SC in their community baby shower that was held on October 15th. We provided children’s books and developmental screening materials to new and expecting parents! Take our FREE developmental screenings on https://helpmegrowsc.org/ We can assist you with any questions you might have about your child from birth - age 5!

Endorsement connects your professional experiences with a?set of competencies?that recognize your infant and/or early childhood mental health expertise. Professionals pursuing an Endorsement designation complete specialized education, work, in-service training and reflective supervision/consultation in one of the specific categories listed above! Have questions about Endorsement or determining which category is right for you? Contact Endorsement Coordinator, Lacretia Powell, at?[email protected]. Join our next Endorsement 101 session on November 21! Use this link to register https://lnkd.in/eixT27Rd