Utah Association for Infant Mental Health |
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vision
To support the mental and social-emotional health of infants and young children in Utah.
MISSION
The Utah Association for Infant Mental Health (UAIMH) will be a key leader in infant mental health (IMH), early childhood mental health (ECMH), and professional education and training across the developmental continuum of ages 0-5. UAIMH will be regarded as a “professional home” for those who support optimal social and emotional development in their work with or on behalf of children ages 0-5 and their families. In response to IECMH needs across local and national landscapes, UAIMH will work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders across systems to strengthen infrastructure that supports equitable child/family outcomes and the professionalization and well-being of the IECMH workforce.
Meet the Board
| Alex Collopy, PhD Board President I am an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Child and Family Studies at Weber State University. I am an early childhood (birth - 3rd grade) teacher educator and educational anthropologist, with expertise in inclusive education from Reconcepualist and Disability Studies in Education Perspectives. |
| Susan Ord, MA Treasurer I am a retired early childhood professional having worked for 20 years in the Utah Department of Health, Baby Watch Early Intervention Program. I learned that one of the most difficult areas of a child's development to identify, evaluate and provide services for was related to social emotional development. It was during this time that UAIMH was created. |
| Cynthia Palacios-Gutierrez, PsyD Board Member I currently work for The Children’s Center Utah as their Professional Development Manager. I help with disseminating webinars pertaining to infant and early childhood mental health, while considering and holding a trauma-informed lens. I also supervise psychology interns in training at The Children’s Center Utah. |
| Alysse Loomis, PhD Past President I am an Assistant Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. My research focuses on the fluence of early childhood trauma in preschools classrooms and building trauma-informed early childhood systems. What I love most about my job is teaching future social workers and finding ways to promote the wellbeing of young children through my research. |
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| Jennifer Mitchell, PhD Board Member I am the Senior Program and Operations Director for The Children's Center. I am an Infant Mental Health specialist, and my expertise is working with children and families who have experienced trauma and children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. What I love most about my job is having the privilege to train and supervise other professionals and share the joy of providing hope and healing to young children and families. |
| Samantha Smith, PsyD Secretary I am currently the Assistant Director of the Psychology Training Program and Staff Psychologist at The Children’s Center in Salt Lake. I specialize in working with children and families with trauma, anxiety, mood, and behavioral disorders. What I love most about my job is getting the opportunity to help families find joy in their relationships with each other and work through a variety of adverse experiences. |
| Shauna Ferrell Wuthrich Board Member I am a Clinical Social Worker currently working towards becoming a fully licensed LCSW. I graduated with an MSW from the University of Utah in 2019 with an emphasis on child welfare. I have ten years experience working in early childhood mental health as a Therapeutic Preschool Specialist working in Kinship Care, and now as a therapist. I have a passion for working with young children to help them through trauma and support their emotional and social development. I believe that prevention is the strongest intervention and that it begins with the mental health of mothers and their infants. | William Cosgrove, MD Board Member I am a pediatrician who retired after 34 years of private practice to devote my time to advocacy for the good of children. I currently serve as the Vice-chair of the Salt lake County Board of Health, the Chair of the Utah Medicaid Medical Care Advisory Committee, Co-Chair of the Early Childhood Utah Commission, Leader RESULTS Salt Lake City Global Health, and member of the Utah Maternal Mental Health Collaborative, the Utah Association of Infant Mental Health, the Utah Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and four Immunization committees. | Susan Dickinson Board Member |
Utah Association for Infant Mental Health |