Meaningful Moments - Connecting IMH to EI

Infants impacted by prenatal substance exposure, foster care, and child welfare involvement often face significant challenges during their earliest years. In this episode of Meaningful Moments, Lisa Terry sits down with Amanda Howard to discuss the impact of trauma and attachment disruptions on infant development and the critical role early intervention professionals play in supporting children and families. Through research, real-life experiences, and practical strategies, this conversation highlights how relationship-based, trauma-informed practices can foster resilience and promote healing for both children and caregivers.

Resources:

Checklist of Early Childhood Practices that Support Social Emotional Development and Trauma-Informed Care
This reflective checklist supports early interventionists in applying trauma-informed practices that promote social-emotional development. It emphasizes safety, regulation, caregiver partnership, and understanding behavior through a trauma- and development-informed lens. https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/trauma_checklist.pdf

Action Plan: Strengthening Trauma-Informed Practice in Early Intervention
This companion action plan helps early interventionists translate reflection into intentional action. Designed to be used alongside the trauma-informed checklist, it supports goal-setting, collaboration, and ongoing reflection to strengthen everyday practice.  https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/trauma_action_plan.pdf

Visit the Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center for FREE resources, training, and handouts. https://veipd.org/main/index.html  

Virginia Association of Infant Mental Health: https://www.vaimh.org/ 

What does it truly mean to be trauma-informed in early intervention? In this episode, Lisa Terry is joined by Christine Inscoe to explore how a shift in the mindset—not adding more to our workload—can transform our approach to support children and families. Together, they unpack the impact of early experiences, recognize stress responses, and share practical, relationship-based strategies that help families feel safe, seen, and supported. Whether you are new to trauma-informed care or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation offers real-world examples and actionable insights you can use right away.

Resources:

VEIPD site: https://veipd.vcu.edu/

Trauma-Informed Care Checklist and Action Plan
Checklist of Early Childhood Practices that Support Social Emotional Development and Trauma-Informed Care

This reflective checklist supports early interventionists in applying trauma-informed practices that promote social-emotional development. It emphasizes safety, regulation, caregiver partnership, and understanding behavior through a trauma- and development-informed lens.

Action Plan: Strengthening Trauma-Informed Practice in Early Intervention

This companion action plan helps early interventionists translate reflection into intentional action. Designed to be used alongside the trauma-informed checklist, it supports goal-setting, collaboration, and ongoing reflection to strengthen everyday practice.

In this episode of Meaningful Moments, Lisa Terry is joined by Melissa Peacey (Norfolk) and Jessica Hale (Virginia Beach) to discuss how social–emotional development is being integrated across early intervention. They share insights on workforce training, common challenges, and how every discipline supports infant mental health.

Tune in for practical takeaways and a powerful reminder: Social–emotional development isn’t separate—it’s at the heart of everything we do.

Resources:

Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center (VEIPD) - https://veipd.vcu.edu/

VEIPD Learning Bytes – Brief learning activities already developed for trainers https://veipd.vcu.edu/professional-development/learning-bytes/

What We Bring Workbook - https://www.challengingbehavior.org/document/what-we-bring-workbook/

Special Guests Corey H. Cassidy, PhD, CCC-SLP & Patricia Eitemiller, M.Ed., QMRP

Compassion fatigue affects how we show up at work, at home, and in our relationships. In this episode, we explore what compassion fatigue is, how it differs from burnout, and how strengthening our emotional intelligence helps us care with intention. Through reflection and practical strategies, we discuss boundaries, capacity, and agency, empowering us to protect our empathy, make intentional choices, and stay connected without losing ourselves in the process.

Find strategies that work for you. Consider the following:

1. Practice self-awareness and reflection (e.g., journaling to express gratitude and acknowledge accomplishments).
2. Build healthy coping strategies (e.g., physical activity, creative outlets, deep-breathing exercises, or spending time outdoors).
3. Cultivate a support network—friends, family, peers, and colleagues—and connect with intention.
4. Reframe negative thoughts and celebrate small wins, sharing  progress and successes with others.

Resources:

Brené Brown book – Atlas of the Heart

Feelings Wheel - https://www.gottman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Gottman-Institute_The-Feeling-Wheel.pdf

Everyday Leadership: Redefining Leadership in Lollipop Moments Blog - https://www.veipd.org/earlyintervention/2019/01/08/everyday-leadership-redefining-leadership-in-lollipop-moments/

Meredith, G.R., Rakow, D.A., Eldermire, E.R.B., Madsen, C.G., Shelley, S.P., & Sachs, N.A. (2020). Minimum Time Dose in Nature to Positively Impact the Mental Health of College-Aged Students, and How to Measure It: A Scoping Review. Front. Psychol. 10:2942. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02942

In this episode, we explore how the Pyramid Model framework supports social-emotional development in early intervention. Our guests, Naomi Grinney and Cori Hill, share practical ways to apply the tiers of the Pyramid Model with infants and toddlers, examples of writing meaningful social-emotional outcomes, and tips for partnering with families to promote positive relationships and emotional growth from the start.

Resources:

Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center: https://veipd.vcu.edu/

Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia: https://itcva.online/pyramid-model-framework/

National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations: https://challengingbehavior.org/resources/

Outcome Examples:

Outcome that focus on relationships: “Jin will call for his mom when he wakes up at night using her name consistently each time every night for one week.”

Outcome around emotional regulation: “Bertie will use calming strategies modeled by her foster mom when she is waiting for food to be placed on her tray (e.g. blowing bubbles) twice per day for one week.”

Outcome supporting social interactions: “Aiden will give his dad a high five when he comes home from work 5x a week over 2 weeks.”

Family outcome: "Asako will identify 5+ strategies that she can use to redirect Jin when he is climbing to give him an opportunity to expend his energy inside and outside the house 10+ times a week for two weeks."

Join this special cross-collaboration between Meaningful Moments: Connecting Infant Mental Health to Early Intervention and The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. Hosts Lisa Terry and Erin Croyle blend professional expertise and lived experience to have an honest, compassionate conversation about infant mental health, the power of relationships, and supporting the social-emotional well-being of all families. Together, Lisa and Erin explore how meaningful connections—between caregivers, children, and communities—can empower families and help children thrive.

Resources:

Meaningful Moments Podcast: https://www.veipd.org/main/meaningful_moments.html

The Odyssey Podcast: https://centerforfamilyinvolvementblog.org/

CFI: https://cfi.partnership.vcu.edu/

VEIPD: https://www.veipd.org/main/index.html

Supporting Families In Early Intervention: https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/supporting-families-in-ei.pdf

A guide to fostering peace and harmony during the holiday season for families and practitioners, emphasizing strategies to build hope and balance. This includes practical tips on managing stress, setting realistic expectations, nurturing self-care, fostering gratitude, and promoting inclusivity. The resource aims to support both personal well-being and professional practices during this busy time, encouraging meaningful connections and resilience.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html or https://www.vaimh.org/ for more information.

This podcast is a collaborative effort from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (through a contract with the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University).

Join us as we delve into the world of autism, exploring its definition, statistics, and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT). Discover how the M-CHAT is used for early detection of autism in toddlers, its importance, and tips for effective implementation.

Listen now and embark on this journey to increase awareness, foster acceptance, and promote early intervention for individuals with autism.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html or https://www.vaimh.org/ for more information.

Resources:

Autism Speaks: https://www.autismspeaks.org

Talks on Tuesday Webinar, VEIPD: Unseen, but In Need: Identifying Girls with ASD in EI: https://www.veipd.org/main/sub_2023_talks_tuesdays.html

Book: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

Poem: A Trip to Holland: https://blogs.illinois.edu/files/8619/809619/174675.pdf

In this engaging episode, join us on a journey to explore the temperament of young children, the fascinating connection to brain development, and the various categories it encompasses. Delve into insightful discussions on the concept of 'goodness of fit' and its profound influence on our interactions with the world around us. Whether you're an early interventionist or caregiver seeking to understand young children better or simply intrigued by the complexities of human nature, this podcast offers enlightening conversations and valuable insights.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html or https://www.vaimh.org/ for more information.

Resources:

Infant and Toddler Temperament Tool: https://www.ecmhc.org/temperament/index.html

In this insightful episode, our special guests, Kirsten Sippel-Klug and Kena Chambers, shed light on the process of building a stronger therapeutic relationship despite cultural differences. They discuss how they fostered a positive working relationship by navigating the nuances of their backgrounds. The conversation delves into instances of mismatch and repair, highlighting the challenges faced and the strategies employed to overcome them. Additionally, the guests share a pivotal moment in their collaboration that significantly contributed to the development of their relationship. For therapists and parents interested in creating their own positive therapeutic relationships, valuable advice is offered based on the guests' experiences. Tune in to gain valuable insights into cultivating meaningful connections in therapeutic settings.

Resources:

John, M. S. S., Thomas, K., & Noroña, C. R. (2013). Diversity-informed infant mental health tenets: Together in the struggle for social justice. Retrieved from https://perspectives.waimh.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2017/05/ZERO-TO-THREE-Corner.-Diversity-Informed-Infant-Mental-Health-Tenets-Together-in-the-Struggle-for-Social-Justice-.pdf

Vikitsreth, N. (2022). Queering “Ways of being:” Replacing politeness with honesty to create belonging. Zero to Three, 42(4).

Nat Vikitsreth, LCSW, DT, CEIM, Founder of Come Back to Care, Inc.
Listen to the Come Back to Care Podcast: https://www.comebacktocare.com/podcast
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