The Infant Crier

  • Beginning Intentional Conversations: Post-election Thoughts from MI-AIMH

    Many of us have been reflecting on the current climate of our neighborhoods, our nation and our society as a whole. We feel an overwhelming need to say something, to do something, but what?  We ask ourselves how to promote peace AND speak out against discrimination, inequities, bigotry, and hatred. The current atmosphere of diversity…

  • Doug Davies: His Enduring Contribution to the Social Work and Infant Mental Health Field

    Doug Davies, M.S.W., Ph.D., was a beloved colleague, mentor and friend to many in the infant mental health community. He was a Lecturer at the School of Social Work, University of Michigan, had a private practice, and was a MI-AIMH board member for many years. After his retirement from the University of Michigan, he continued…

  • Honoring Doug: A Lifetime of Commitment to Infants, Children and Families

    This letter, written by Debbie Weatherston and Sheryl Goldberg, was read on behalf of MI-AIMH at the Davies Memorial Lecture. Doug served the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health and the infant mental health community throughout his long and distinguished service to children and families. While earning his M.S.W. from the University of Michigan in…

  • Introduction to Attachment

    Reprinted from The Infant Crier, July-September 2005 John Bowlby described attachment as a fundamental need that has a biological basis. Attachment serves as a protective device for the immature young of many species, including humans. Babies need the care of adults to survive, and they have many built-in behaviors, such as making strong eye contact,…

  • Advocating & Collaborating Within the Child Welfare System to Ensure a Young Child’s Safety & Security

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This case study examines the complexities of navigating the child welfare system on behalf of a three-year old. It is made clear quickly that the Infant Mental Health (IMH) therapist has to become familiar with competing individuals, relationships, and issues, as often is the case when working with child welfare involved families. These…

  • THANK-YOU, Kerry Baughman, Infant Crier Co-Editor

    Kerry Baughman is stepping down as Co-Editor of the Infant Crier as she assumes new responsibilities as Director of Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency’s (NMCAA) 10 county Head Start and Early Start program. Under Kerry’s leadership, the Infant Crier changed from a paper document to an online edition making it immediately accessible to readers and…

  • Working with Lawyers and the Legal System

    Introduction Infant mental health specialists sometimes work with families that are involved in the legal system. These families may be involved in child protective proceedings, child custody cases or guardianship actions. As a result, IMH professionals are sometimes asked to testify, to provide information or to opine regarding what arrangements for custody, parenting time and…

  • Integrating IMH Principles with Work with Special Needs Families: Early Signs of ASD

    The traditional principles of Infant Mental Health (IMH) are instrumental in clinical work with infants and young children across settings.  In my work in a private practice outpatient setting, the Infant Mental Health perspective helps provide a framework for my work with young children and their families.  In this article I will focus on the…

  • Understanding Michigan Autism Services

    You are an infant mental health specialist working with 2 1/2 year old Sammy and his family.  His parents are worried about Sammy’s limited language and his tantrums, which are frequent and seem easily provoked.  You have observed how discouraged his parents have become at his seeming disinterest in playing with them.  Sammy prefers solitary, repetitive…

  • Inquire Within: Reframing Our Understanding of Children with Autism

    Jimmy, a 5 ½ year old boy with autism, was transitioning to kindergarten. This non-verbal child with a hyper-reactive sensory system would be leaving our self-contained university-based preschool special education program and heading back to his home school district. For about a year, Jimmy had been spending part of his week in a private general…