Building the Capacity of our
Team
Presenters: Michelle Davies and Cindy
Schick Members of the CESA 5 Portage
Project Birth to 3 Teams and Sauk County
Birth to 3 Team
Introducing our Teams
April Sabel, EC:EEN
Aryn Slack, DPT
Casey Ambort, CCC-SLP
Ivy Anderson, CCC-SLP
Julie Boening, OT
Karen Williams, EC
Kelli Humbert, CCC-SLP
Lisa Revelis, PT
Lisa Stangler, OT
Loretta Connor, EC:EEN
Mindy Behnke, EC:EEN
Miranda Schulenberg, OT
Nicole Terrill, DPT
Rebecca Neveu, CCC-SLP
Sara Hausser, CCC-SLP
Suzy Larkin, OT
Why are we here?
Building our capacity
around social and
emotional
development and
importance of early
relationships through
endorsement.
What is IMH Endorsement?
Infant Mental Health (IMH) Endorsement ® for Culturally Sensitive,
Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health is:
an internationally recognized credential that supports and recognizes the
development and proficiency of professionals who work with or on behalf
of infants, toddlers, and their families
based on a set of Competencies designed to support and enhance culturally
sensitive, relationship focused practice within the framework of infant
mental health.
Portage Project
Core Values that Guide the Work
Relationship Focus: Learning occurs within the context of relationships. We pay attention to the relationships surrounding the child
and family, and place primary importance on building relationships as a basis for our work. The path to our most effective work is through
relationships, which sustain us both professionally and personally.
Ecological Approach: Considering and exploring the larger environmental context in which children, families, staff and programs
exist. Recognizing that these elements influence what we see and hear as we observe interactions. There is a continuous adjustment
between the developing person and the characteristics of their immediate environment and life context.
Strengths and Assets Based: Focusing on the strengths or assets of children, families and staff to build relationships and guide
intervention. Individualized services build on the strengths and resources of each child and family member.
Reflective Thinking: Taking the time to think individually and collectively about our work enhances the quality of what we do and
how we feel. This reflective process influences our interactions and relationships.
Family/Person Systems Centered: Viewing families as equal partners with staff and administrators.
we do, and are the primary decision makers.
Families guide the work
S-SIP (Theory of Action)
Science and the Importance of Early
Relationships
Group Reflection
How might you step into relationship
based work more intentionally?
Team
Reflections:
Relationship
Based Work
How is it alike or different than
how you practiced before?
How do you feel about your
current position?
“When you ask questions that encourage parents to reflect about
what they already know it changes the whole conversation. If I
don’t ask reflective questions, I might give suggestions that are
not even relevant and Mom might agree just because I am the
professional. This leaves the real needs unmet.”
Step One
Building Leadership to support team endorsement
Portage Project History and Guiding principles; specifically Reflective Thinking
Sarah Kravick, LMFT was brought into the Portage Project 5 years ago group reflective
supervision and infant mental health consultation
Cindy Schick was hired in July 2016 as Birth to 3 Program Coordinator participated in
Portage Project Reflective Leadership Cohort and WI-AIMH Reflective Supervision
Collaborative
Reflective Supervision
Providers engage in a supportive relationship with a supervisor or consultant
exploring the feelings and experiences raised by working with young
children and their families over time.
The interactions are based upon the provider's own unique characteristics
and experiences.
The ongoing relationship gives the provider a safe and reliable space
characterized by a genuine interest in exploring the reciprocal nature of the
provider-family relationship and the emotional responses experienced by
Step Two
Team
Commitment to
Endorsement
“Hey, wouldn’t it be
awesome to get our
whole team
endorsed?”
Elizabeth Wahl Visits
our team
What competencies
have we already
completed?
Team Reflection:
Endorsement….
What were your initial
thoughts about
“The Proposal”
Time commitment
Building a portfolio
Documentation
Step Three
Team Professional Development System
Plan
Team PD Plan that supports our work with families and leads to endorsement
Individual PD Plans that helps meet licensure requirements, personal objectives
Connected Staff evaluations to PD plans
Team Support
Explore Compassion fatigue
Provide Reflective Supervision; individual and group
Step Four
Certified Educator
of Infant Massage
Training (CEIM)
Consistent with our Core Values
Satisfies licensure requirements
Utilized memorial funding given
to Birth to 3
Staff donated personal time in
exchange for CEIM
certification
Opportunity for team buildingsensitive conversations,
Benefits of Infant
Massage
● Promotion of bonding
and secure attachment
● Stimulation - various
body systems
● Gastric Relief
● Regulation
● Promotion of bonding
and secure attachment
● Stimulation - Various
body systems
● Gastric Relief
● Regulation
Group Reflections
What trainings/PD opportunities have you done
that allow for self reflection, vulnerability,
capacity building?
How were similar/different than other
trainings?
Team Reflections: CEIM
What resonated for you personally?
Did an experience during the class or research
shared shift your perspectives in some way?
What was it like to spend 4 days connected to
your team?
Our Team in Action!
Parent: Did you notice a
difference in your baby?
“It helped with him- I noticed he was more
calm. It also helped with his little sister. It
helped her with constipation and gas"
"He's more comfortable and relaxed with
being touched"
“Definitely- both slept better and less
gassy”
“We are both more relaxed”
“He has responded to gentle touch so well”
“Baby is much more calm during massage”
“I noticed that our baby became more
relaxed and often went to sleep after his
massage. I also see some relief in his
digestion and help with his bowels”
Parent: Do you feel there is
a change in your
relationship?
Parent: Do you feel there has been a
change in your relationship?
"Stronger connection"
“Our bond has been strengthened”
“Yes, especially during challenging times”
“Yes! We enjoy the relaxing time together”
“More eye contact and smiles”
“Our baby’s eye contact has improved and I feel like I
have a better understanding of his likes and dislikes in
regard to his body and touch. I feel a different bond with
Team Reflections: Classes
How did it feel initially?
What changed from session to session?
Would you do it again?
Do you prefer teaching as a group?
Individually?
Step Five
Building the Capacity of the Community
Connections outside of our team- we can’t do it alone!
Teel donation to WI-AIMH
Funding to be used to support local community and statewide initiatives
Start up funds for the Southern Region Chapter of WI-AIMH
Creation of the Birth to 3 Endorsement Brochure
27 scholarships to the WI-AIMH Conference
Community: Teel Website
Group Reflections
How might you help to build the Social
Emotional Capacity of your community?
What have you done?
What would you love to see happen?
Team
Reflections:
Community
Where did you hold the classes?
Where in the future?
Will you continue to hold classes in
the community?
What other needs do you see in the
communities in which you live and
work?
What might be another initiative to
support social and emotional
development and healthy
communities?
Take Aways!
Let your Core Values Drive your Work!
Make decisions based on Evidence Based Practices and current relevant
Research.
Think outside of the Box
Be creative and reach out to the community for support, funding and
messaging.
Your Questions??????