Events
Please join us for our 2025 Conference!
Early Connections: A New Era in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® in Maryland and DC
This conference is funded by the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration through funding from Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant ARPA Supplemental and by the members of the Infant Mental Health Association of Maryland and District of Columbia.
Special thanks to the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health and the University of Maryland Baltimore for providing technical assistance in making this conference possible.
Join us for our first annual conference on May 5, 2025! We are thrilled to host an in-person event where a diverse group of professionals and community members, dedicated to serving young children and families, can gather, network, participate in collaborative learning, and explore engagement opportunities with the Association.
We will celebrate the launch of Maryland's IMH-E® and ECMH-E® Endorsement! Conference attendees will learn how this internationally recognized credential enhances infant and early childhood mental health across disciplines and supports the workforce in achieving better outcomes for our youngest community members, infants and young children.
Session Topics Will Include (Full Agenda Below):
The launch and an in-depth exploration of the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® (IMH-E®) and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® (ECMH-E®).
Keynote addresses from Dr. Brenda Jones-Harden and Dr. Deborah Perry
Reflective practice session from Amy Hunter, LICSW
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Panel Conversation
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) will be available for Social Workers, Psychologists and Counselors. Registration links are below!
Conference Location:
Goucher College
Sanford J. Ungar Athenaem, Hyman Forum
1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, MD 21204
Monday, May 5, 2025
2025 Conference Registration
Conference Registration Categories
Please click on the appropriate conference registration link to register. Join the Association to get a discount on the conference registration! Only members of the Association will be eligible for Endorsement.
Current Members: $30 conference registration fee *must have conference registration code sent via email*
Current Organizational Members: 5 attendees included in annual membership *must have conference registration code sent via email*
New Professional Membership + Conference: $80 ($50 annual membership + $30 conference registration fee)
New Student Membership + Conference: $50 ($20 annual membership + $30 conference registration fee)
New Family Membership + Conference: $55 ($25 annual membership + $30 conference registration fee)
Non-Member Conference Only: $85 *Early Bird Price until March 31, 2025*
Looking to register for a new Organizational Membership? Please use this form and our Membership Coordinator will follow up with you to register for the conference.
Hotel Room Block is now available!
A discounted nightly rate of $159.00 is available to conference attendees. Attendees must book by April 2, 2025 to receive the reduced rate. The hotel is 0.5 miles from the conference venue.
Sheraton Baltimore North
903 Dulaney Valley Rd, Towson, MD 21204
410-321-7400
Click here to book!
Conference Agenda
May 5, 2025
9:00am-9:30am- Registration
9:30am-10:00am- Welcome from the IMHA MD/DC
10:00am-10:50am- IMHA-MD/DC Infant Mental Health Endorsement® (IMH-E®) and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® (ECMH-E®) Overview
Kelly Sipotz, MS, LMSW, IMH-E Program Manager, Workforce Development at the Alliance for Infant Mental Health
10:50am-11:05am- BREAK
11:05am-12:05pm- Keynote Speakers
Dr. Brenda Jones-Harden Professor Emerita at University of Maryland and Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work
Dr. Deborah Perry Professor of Pediatrics, Georgetown University
12:05pm-1:00pm- Networking Lunch (lunch provided)
1:05pm-2:20pm- IMH-E® and ECMH-E® Endorsement Deep Dive
Kelly Sipotz, MS, LMSW, IMH-E Program Manager, Workforce Development at the Alliance for Infant Mental Health
2:20pm-2:30pm- BREAK
2:30pm-3:00pm- Reflective Practice
Amy Hunter, LICSW, Assistant Professor Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities Georgetown University
3:05pm-3:45pm- Reflective Practice Panel Discussion
Panel Members Coming Soon!
3:45pm-4:00pm- Closing
4:10-4:30pm- Endorsement Launch, Applications, and Question/Answer Session for those interested in starting the Endorsement process at the conference