Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

11/12/2025

The Pyramid Model team, along with other WI-AIMH staff, attended the Midwest Pyramid Model last week in Naperville, IL, and had a wonderful time of learning and connecting with programs and staff!

It was a successful two days with representation from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois. Many programs from Wisconsin shared their program-wide implementation successes. Thank you to our Wisconsin-implementing sites for representing Pyramid Model so well!

Thank you to all who attended the summit, and who continue to support the Wisconsin Pyramid Model!

(Pictured: 1 - PM Team: Lisa, Emily, Delechia, Tina; 2 - former WI-AIMH staffer Merissa with Abby; 3 - Anne and Abby; 4 - Lana and Kate Sweeney)

11/11/2025

🗽 “For the veteran, thank you for bravely doing what you’re called to do so we can safely do what we’re free to do.” Happy Veteran's Day!

11/10/2025

ICYMI: Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH) had its last Children's Mental Health Network meeting of the year last week Friday, but, in case you missed it (ICYMI), we've been invited to share the recording with you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyjqan7pVPc

During this 90-minute discussion on infant and early childhood mental health, you'll see WI-AIMH's Executive Director Lana as one of the panelist, and hear about topics on the following:
➢ The foundation for infant and early childhood mental health
➢ Infant and early childhood mental health in child care and families
➢ Pediatricians and infant and early childhood mental health

To learn more about OCMH's Children's Mental Health Network, and sign up for 2026 meetings, click here: https://children.wi.gov/Pages/CMH-Network.aspx

To keep up with WI-AIMH happenings, resources, trainings and news, sign up for our newsletter here: tiny.cc/wiaimhmonthly

OCMH's November 7, 2025 Children's Mental Health Network meeting focused on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.

11/06/2025

Well Badger Resource Center has put together a wonderful infographic on infant mental health and "building a strong start for life."

In addition to having this as an informative reference on ways to implement simple, every day healthy habits for adult and baby, The Power of Connection, a WI-AIMH project, is sited as a useful resource.

See the full infographic here:
https://www.wellbadger.org/s/article/Infant-Mental-Health?language=en_US

Learn more about The Power of Connection here: the-power-of-connection.org

11/04/2025

⏰ A Reminder: 👀
Join Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH)—and WI-AIMH's ED, Lana, as a panelist—for its last children's mental health learning meeting of the year! It's happening this Friday, Nov. 7th from 10 AM - 12 PM, virtually, on Zoom.

During the meeting, attendees will be surveyed to help identify priority areas for OCMH in 2026. This is a key moment to emphasize the importance of early relationships and wellbeing, and ensure babies' needs are represented.

Register here: survey.alchemer.com/s3/8121885/OCMH-Children-s-Mental-Health-Network-Meeting-List
Learn more here: children.wi.gov/Pages/CMH-Network.aspx

See you there!

10/30/2025

The federal shutdown is hurting families and time is running out.

If Congress doesn’t act by November 1st, tens of thousands of children could lose access to Head Start and the care and services their families depend on. Now is the time for us to speak out.

For working families, quality child care isn’t optional. Parents need it to bring home a paycheck. It keeps our economy moving. And it gives thousands of children the strong start they deserve. Already, layoffs and uncertainty are disrupting services nationwide. We cannot allow political gridlock to take away opportunity from our youngest learners and their families.

Join me in taking action today: Tell your Members of Congress to end the shutdown and protect essential early childhood programs. Use https://www.ffyf.org/take-action/ to spread the word.

10/28/2025

😓 (((sigh)))
We know there's a lot going on these days... Both in our internal worlds as much as in the external world around us.

In honor of the autumn season, and acknowledging that we all need to remind ourselves to slow down, we invite you to pause, reflect and let go:

⏯ Pause to acknowledge what is different or shifting.
💭 Reflect on what you've been through and how far you've come.
👐 Let go of what you no longer need as you continue to nurture your well-being.

Here's an article on "Why Fall Routines Matter for Mental Health:"
mhs-dbt.com/blog/back-to-balance-why-fall-routines-matter-for-mental-health/

10/24/2025

It's the final day of Celebrate Babies Week! 👶

During this week of celebrating babies, we’ve highlighted just a few milestones. There are so many more benchmarks worth honoring, like the launch of the Infant Mental Health Endorsement credential in 2010 and Wisconsin’s success in securing home visiting funding in 2011.

The road to better outcomes for Wisconsin’s babies has been built through the dedication of countless professionals across our state’s history.

We’re grateful for everyone who has helped make Wisconsin a better place for babies and their families, both those who laid the foundation and those carrying the work forward today. 💖

As we close out Celebrate Babies Week, we ask two things of you:
1) Please consider donating to the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health at wiaimh.org/donate-2, &
2) Share your thoughts with us on what issues you think are important to have on the policy agenda for Wisconsin (any topic, anything that comes to mind!): tinyurl.com/WIAIMHWhiteboard

10/23/2025

📢 Partner Organization Post!
Did you know that the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH) hosts quarterly meetings for its Children's Mental Health Network?

And their next meeting (Nov. 7th) is particularly special because WI-AIMH's ED, Lana Shklyar Nenide, will be a panelist!

Meeting Details:
Friday, Nov. 7th
10 AM - 12 PM
Virtually, on Zoom

To sign up for it and future meetings, click here: survey.alchemer.com/s3/8121885/OCMH-Children-s-Mental-Health-Network-Meeting-List

More on these quarterly meetings:
"OCMH holds four children's mental health learning meetings each year that bring a large and broad group of children's mental health advocates and professionals together to learn about children's mental health initiatives and activities across the state. This Children's Mental Health Network is open to anyone interested in children's mental health in Wisconsin." To learn more about the Children's Mental Health Network, and see resources from previous meetings, click here: children.wi.gov/Pages/CMH-Network.aspx.

10/23/2025

For the 4th day of Celebrate Babies Week (Oct. 20-24), we continue to celebrate babies, those who care for them, and the history of infant mental health (IMH) in Wisconsin!

In 2014, Wisconsin took another big step by creating the Wisconsin Office of Children's Mental Health (OCMH).

By uniting agencies, providers and families, OCMH works to improve child well-being from the ground up—starting in infancy. With a focus on equity and lived experience, OCMH ensures that babies are part of the statewide conversation on mental health

Check out this Office of Children’s Mental Health Infant and Toddler Mental Health Fact Sheet, released last year: tinyurl.com/OCMH2024FactSheet.

10/22/2025

We're bringing the conference back by popular demand!

We’ve had lots of interest in accessing the recordings of our annual conference on October 14, 2025, so we’ve decided to make it available to those who missed the registration deadline or were unable to attend.

You can now purchase our virtual conference! But recordings are only available till Nov. 17th, so don't delay. Purchase today!

$50 for Members | $85 for Nonmembers
https://tinyurl.com/Buy2025ConfWIAIMH

Did you enjoy the conference, but have colleagues who missed out? Share the flyer or purchase link, so they can start enjoying today!

10/22/2025

It’s Celebrate Babies Week (Oct. 20-24), and WI-AIMH is looking at the history and development of infant mental health in Wisconsin.

A new chapter for IMH in Wisconsin began in 2010 with the launch of the UW Infant, Early Childhood & Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program.

This innovative, interdisciplinary program equips professionals, from pediatricians to child welfare workers to early educators, with the foundational knowledge they need to support families during the most critical years of development.

The program’s courses are taught by nationally recognized leaders and state specialists in the field of parent-infant/early childhood mental health. The Mindfulness Sessions and Reflective Mentoring Groups in the program help professionals to cultivate presence, reflective practice, self-awareness and cultural humility.

Capstone Program Fellows bring these insights into Wisconsin communities, building stronger systems of care for our youngest citizens.

Visit the website for the University of Wisconsin Center for Innovations in Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eq5evRFY.

You can celebrate Wisconsin’s babies by making a donation to WI-AIMH at wiaimh.org/donate-2. WI-AIMH is a registered 501(c)3 organization. Help support healthy social and emotional development for all Wisconsin children by making a donation today!

University of Wisconsin-Madison