Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health

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Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health

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The Illinois Association for Infant Mental Health believes that from the beginning, every child should have a family and community environment in which he or she can thrive physically, mentally and emotionally.

10/31/2025

🎃👻 Halloween can bring big feelings for little ones—and that’s okay!

For infants and young children, excitement, curiosity, and even fear of costumes, loud noises, or new experiences are normal. These moments are perfect opportunities to support healthy emotional development and strengthen caregiver-child connections.

Tips for a Halloween that nurtures mental health:
➡ Follow your child’s lead: If they need a break, give them one.
➡ Name feelings: “I see that spooky mask is scary. Let’s take a deep breath together.”
➡ Keep routines: Familiar routines provide comfort amidst the excitement.
➡ Celebrate small wins: Applaud curiosity, bravery, and shared joy.

This Halloween, the sweetest treat is connection, comfort, and understanding. 🧡

10/30/2025

⏳ Just one week to go until the 2025 ILAIMH Annual Conference!

Connect with colleagues, learn practical tools, and be inspired by sessions that highlight resilience, equity, and the power of relationships in infant and early childhood mental health.

📅 Friday, November 7 | 📍 Moraine Valley Community College

If you haven’t registered yet, don’t wait:
https://iafimh.wildapricot.org/event-6182803

10/27/2025

👶 Session Spotlight: Caring for Children with Medical & Developmental Complexity – A Focus on Early Relational Health

Learn from the La Rabida Children’s Hospital Team about supporting families navigating complex medical and developmental needs, trauma, and non-traditional caregiving structures.

Gain evidence-based insights and practical strategies to strengthen your work with families: https://iafimh.wildapricot.org/event-6182803

Want to learn more about the presenters outside of work? Here’s how they each choose to wind down!

🏃 Amelia: Running, tennis, and watching TV
📖 Kathleen: Reading or walking the dog
🌱 Laura: Gardening, biking, and long walks with the dog
📚 Marilyn: Going for a run or binging a good book

La Rabida Children's Hospital

10/22/2025

ICYMI: We’re kicking off the 2025 ILAIMH Conference with a special Pre-Conference Reception—and you’re invited! 🎉

Join us for an evening of connection, community, and celebration with colleagues, presenters, and fellow early childhood professionals.

📅 Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 6–8 PM
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Alsip, IL
🥂 Heavy appetizers | Cash bar | $25 per person

Don’t miss this warm, casual start to conference week!
➡️ Register today: https://iafimh.wildapricot.org/event-6342528

10/20/2025

We’re grateful for our amazing conference sponsors:
💙 INCCRRA
💙 Irving Harris Foundation
💙 Start Early
💙 La Rabida Children's Hospital
💙 Illinois Resource Center
💙 McCormick Institute for Early Childhood
💙 National Louis University
💙 JCFS Chicago Virginia Frank Child Development Center
💙 Children's Therapy Connections
💙 Maryville Academy

We also want to thank the Erikson Institute as a partner in this vital work. Support from our sponsors and partners makes it possible for us to bring professionals together to share research, explore best practices, and strengthen the field of infant and early childhood mental health.

10/14/2025

✨ Session Spotlight: Authentic Connections: Engaging Families Through a Lens of Cultural Responsiveness

Presenter: Adelicia Brienzo, MA

Explore strategies to foster meaningful engagement with families from diverse cultural backgrounds, using Young-Chan Han’s Stages of Immigrant Parent Involvement.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical tools to strengthen your connection with families: https://iafimh.wildapricot.org/event-6182803

10/10/2025

You might wonder—why do we talk about infants and mental health together?

Mental health isn’t just something that develops later in life. From birth, infants’ brains are shaped by relationships, responsive caregiving, and safe, predictable environments. How caregivers respond to cues, offer comfort, and build connection lays the foundation for a lifetime of emotional well-being.

This World Mental Health Day, let’s celebrate the work of caring adults, nurture connections, and remember: healthy starts early, and caregiver well-being matters too.

Learn more about infant mental health at https://ilaimh.org/

10/09/2025

We’re honored to recognize the Irving Harris Foundation as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 ILAIMH Annual Conference! 💙

Their commitment to early childhood development and mental health makes it possible for professionals across Illinois to come together, learn, and strengthen our collective impact.

Thank you, Irving Harris Foundation, for supporting families and the infant mental health community!

10/07/2025

✨ You’re invited! ✨

Join us for the ILAIMH 2025 Pre-Conference Reception, an evening to connect, mingle, and celebrate the work we share.

📅 Thursday, Nov. 6 | 6–8 PM
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton, Alsip, IL

This reception is open to everyone—whether you’re a conference attendee, ILAIMH member, early childhood professional, or community partner. Come meet the 2025 ILAIMH Conference presenters and enjoy:

🥂 Heavy appetizers
🍸 Cash bar
💵 $25 per person

👉 Register here: https://iafimh.wildapricot.org/event-6342528

10/02/2025

Trauma can shape the earliest years of life—and its impact can last a lifetime.

At ILAIMH, we’re committed to making sure caregivers and professionals have the knowledge and tools to recognize and respond to trauma in infants and toddlers with care and compassion.

Help make a difference today: https://ilaimh.org/

09/30/2025

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

We’re thrilled to honor Jesse Ilhardt, Executive Director and Co-Founder of VOCEL, at the 2025 ILAIMH Conference!

Jesse is an inspiring early education leader, TEDx speaker, and mother of two who dreams of a world where all children grow and learn through play and nurturing relationships. From preschool teacher to executive director, she has built award-winning, science-informed programs that empower educators, parents, and communities.

Her TEDx talk, "How Play Helps a Kid’s Brain Grow", has reached over 1 million viewers worldwide, and she’s shared her insights at institutions like Harvard University and A Better Chicago.

Join us in celebrating her amazing contributions to early childhood mental health and education!

Register for the 2025 ILAIMH Conference here: https://ilaimh.org/professional-development/ilaimh-conference/

Jesse Ilhardt
VOCEL

09/24/2025

⏰ Only 2 days left to take advantage of early bird registration for the 2025 ILAIMH Annual Conference!

📅 Friday, November 7, 2025
🕘 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
📍 Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with leaders in infant and early childhood mental health and learn practical strategies to support diverse parenting experiences.

Early bird rates end September 26: https://iafimh.wildapricot.org/event-6182803

Address

Chicago, IL
60654

Website

http://www.ilaimh.org/

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