Healthychild

10/17/2025

💙 It’s World Trauma Day!

At HealthyCHILD, we’re honoring the courage it takes to heal — and raising awareness about the lasting impact of trauma on children, families, and communities.

Trauma can shape how we think, feel, and connect — but healing happens when we come together with understanding, compassion, and hope. 💫

Here are 3 small ways you can make a big difference today:
🧠 Learn how trauma affects the brain — awareness opens the door to change.
🤝 Listen with empathy — every story deserves to be heard.
📣 Share facts and hope — help break the stigma around trauma and mental health.

Together, we can build a world where every child has the chance to heal, grow, and thrive. 💙

If you’d like to learn more or get involved, reach out to the HealthyCHILD team — we’d love to connect and share how you can help make a difference.

09/24/2025

🌟 We’re headed to Portland! 🌟

We’re honored to share that we’re presenting two sessions at the 2025 Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Conference, taking place October 7–10, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.

📅 Our sessions

1️⃣ Trauma-Sensitive Schools Professional Learning Series for Early Childhood — Highlighting practical tools and strategies to help educators respond to trauma in early learning settings.
Presented by Laura Campbell, M.Ed, NCSP, Dr. Denise Esposto, Madeline Rushford, Dr. Stefano Bagnato , and Dr. Tracy Larson

2️⃣ Leading Change: SEL, Trauma Practices, & Networked Learning — Featuring our leadership model and real-world stories of advancing SEL and trauma-sensitive practices through networked improvement.
Presented by Dr. Karl Jancart, Cecelia Midberry, M.Ed, NBCT, Dr. Stefano Bagnato, and Dr. Tracy Larson

We can’t wait to share and learn alongside early childhood leaders from across the country!

🔗 Register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/35c4112d-88ee-48dd-97d4-fa5bc444d228/summary

09/12/2025

We’re so grateful that Dr. Denise Esposto is part of our HealthyCHILD team. For 25 years, she’s been preparing Child Life Specialists to support children and families with compassion and skill. This story celebrates her incredible impact. 💙💛

The Pitt Education course, led by Adjunct Assistant Professor Denise Esposto, has helped produce nearly 100 Certified Child Life Specialists, and counting.

05/07/2025

Please join us in celebrating two of HealthyCHILD's 2025 Interns, Charlotte Walker and Madeline Rushford. They presented their final projects at the annual showcase event held April 16th for Applied Developmental Psychology students at both the bachelors and master's level. Each poster encompassed the work that HealthyCHILD provides to our partners and communities we serve.

Congratulations again we are so proud and wish you the best on your next endeavor.

05/05/2025

Kindergarten Transition. This year flew and before you know it the summer will to, Healthy Child would like to give you some support around your child transitioning to Kindergarten 🎉.

We have listed some books that will be great for preparation into this new journey. Congratulations parents, caregivers, providers and educators!

04/16/2025

every month is a month we should be kind to unique minds; however, in April we like to shine an extra bright light for those are seen as different.

01/08/2025

Hello everyone and happy new year,

Help us help you by completing this survey regarding section 504's in the schools. You can complete this in just a minute, which in turn can make a huge impact in the long run. We appreciate your help with this, and hope all is well with you and your families. ❤️

01/07/2025

🎬 Exciting news for families and individuals with sensory sensitivities! 🎬

The Lindsay Theater & Cultural Center offers Sensory-Friendly Screenings, providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy the magic of movies. With softer lighting, lower volume, and a judgment-free atmosphere, these screenings are perfect for kids and adults who need a little extra comfort in their movie experience.

Whether you’re part of the neurodivergent community or simply looking for a more relaxed movie outing, this is a great opportunity to have fun, connect, and feel right at home! 🧩💙

Check out their upcoming showtimes: thelindsaytheater.org/sensory-friendly-screenings

A sensory friendly screening offers the option for families, children and adults impacted by autism and other special needs, to watch films together by lowering film volume, keeping on dim house lights and having a door open to restrooms and the lobby throughout the film. Trailers are eliminated to....

12/11/2024

during this holiday season. Please fill your cup and pour from the overflow.

10/31/2024

Dr. Denise Esposto’s knowledge and experience enriches our HealthyCHILD team, our ECE partners, and the next generation of applied developmental psychology professionals. 💙💛💙💛💙💛

We work with children wherever life takes them! In schools, family centers, their homes and neighborhoods, and in hospitals. Our office's resident child life expert is teaching "HHD 2349: Child Life Practice in Hospitals" this semester with the of Pittsburgh School of Education's Applied Developmental Psychology students. These lucky students get to learn from Dr. Esposto, who was the Manager of Child Life and Volunteer Services Departments at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC for 12 years and a Certified Child Life Specialist for 18 years. Dr. Esposto brings her expertise to Pitt students, and to her work on the Office of Child Development's Healthychild team. Thanks for all you do, Denise!
pitt

10/16/2024

with teaching and being taught. We are tasked with helping the young minds develop and flourish; however, they have the ability to teach us as well. They can teach us about ourselves and most importantly about themselves. Let's spend this fall, falling in love with learning in every way possible.