Presenters
Presenters share their expertise and experience while guiding Fellows through an exploration of strength-based approaches to prevention and intervention with young children and families. Presenters facilitate interactive discussions that highlight the multitude of perspectives and voices that are brought to the Fellowship.
“Each presenter we met via Zoom made a huge impact on the different lenses I use in my professional work and also my personal life. I wish to emulate all of their confidence, their resilience, their leadership.”
“So many of the presenters were amazing. From learning about foster care, immigration, resiliency, hot and cool moments and the impact of nature!! The presenters left a wave of education and impact. I’m very grateful for all the amazing people who made this such a pleasant and inspiring experience.”
“I felt that the presenters were incredible, and I was so impressed by the variety of expertise being shared.”
“Presenters delved into topics which I had minimal knowledge of or had never considered from a specific perspective. It has opened my mind to consider all perspectives and really zoom out, to try to see the entire picture.”
2025 – 2026 Fellowship Presenters
September and October 2025 – Frames for Work in Early Childhood
Relationships Matter to Infants and The Adults Who Care For Them: Kadija Johnston, LCSW
Sprouts Professional Development Part 1: Recognizing Cues Gabriela Alejos, LCSW
Sprouts Professional Development Part 1: Recognizing Cues Valerie Yarema, MSW
Facilitative Leadership in Early Childhood Jolie Delja, MS
Reflective Practice as an Essential Element in Infant and Early Childhood Mary Claire Heffron, PhD
Ping Ho, MA, MPH
November 2025 – Perinatal Risk and Resilience: Implications for Infant and Family Wellbeing
Sprouts Professional Development Part 2: Understanding Cues Gabriela Alejos, LCSW
Sprouts Professional Development Part 2: Understanding Cues Valerie Yarema, MSW
Understanding the Impacts of Transgenerational Trauma & Racism on Maternal Mental Health Susan Lowe, MA, LMFT, PMH-C
Supporting Parents of Medically Complex Infants Sierra Kuzava, PhD
Supporting Parents of Medically Complex Infants Kalen Kennedy, PhD
Bridging the Divide: Integrating Perinatal Psychiatry & Infant Mental Health Across Systems of Care Misty C. Richards, MD, MS
December 2025 – Addressing Dysregulation in Young Children
Sprouts Professional Development Responding to Hot Moments Gabriela Alejos, LCSW
Sprouts Professional Development Responding to Hot Moments Valerie Yarema, MSW
Intervening to Enhance Parenting of Vulnerable Infants: Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up Mary Dozier, PhD
Occupational Therapy through a Trauma Lens Briana Pollard, OTD, OTR/L, SWC, CLE, CIMI
January 2026 – Relational Perspectives on Young Children’s Behavior
Sprouts Professional DevelopmentResponding in Cool Moments Gabriela Alejos, LCSW
Sprouts Professional DevelopmentResponding in Cool Moments Agustina Bertone, PhD
0-5 Neurodevelopment: Understanding Challenging Behaviors & Building Social-Emotional Capacities through a Neuropsychological Lens Jess Bernal, LMFT
Marvin Belzer, PhD
February 2026 – Supporting Children and Families in Systems of Care
Father Involvement During Early Childhood: Putting Inclusion into Practice Alan-Michael Graves, EdD, MPA
Cultivating Joy, Healthy Development, and Learning in the Early Years Iheoma U. Iruka, PhD
The Border is Here: Immigration Trauma and Loss Carmen Rosa Noroña, LICSW, MsEd
The Border is Here: Immigration Trauma and Loss Ivys Fernández-Pastrana, JD
March 2026 – Timely Issues in Infant and Early Childhood Development
Early Childhood and Screens: Strengths-Based Approaches for Jenny Radesky, PhD
Psychological First Aid TEACH Vivien Villaverde, LCSW, PPSC
Educando a Nuestros Hijos: Parent Engagement Practices Agustina Bertone, PhD
April 2026 – Family-Level Intervention for Young Children Impacted by Trauma
Families Overcoming Under Stress (FOCUS) Early Childhood Nastassia Hajal, PhD
May 2026 – Nature-Based Approaches to Community Wellbeing
Could nature be one answer to the youth mental health crisis? Aaron Reuben, PhD
Culturaleza: Weaving Culture and Nature for Wellbeing José G. González, MS
Cultivating Wellness Through Nature-Based Sheila Williams Ridge, MA, EdD
June 2026 – Culmination and Celebration
Can We Be Enough as Early Childhood Professionals? Junlei Li, PhD
2024 – 2025 Fellowship Presenters
September 2024
Relationships Matter To Infants and the Adults Who Care For Them: Connecting Kadija Johnston, LCSW
October 2024
Reflective Practice as an Essential Element in Infant and Early Childhood Mary Claire Heffron, PhD
Creative Approaches to Resilience in Children & Self-Care Ping Ho, MA, MPH
Sprouts PD – Part 1: Recognizing Cues Gabriela Alejos, LCSW
Sprouts PD – Part 1: Recognizing Cues Valerie Yarema, MSW
Facilitative Leadership in Early Childhood Jolie Delja, MS
November 2024
Maternal Mental Health Matters for Women and the Next Generation Catherine Monk, PhD
Intervening to Enhance Parenting of Vulnerable Young Children Mary Dozier, PhD
Sprouts PD: Part 2 Understanding Cues Gabriela Alejos, LCSW
Sprouts PD: Part 2 Understanding Cues Valerie Yarema, MSW
Understanding the Impacts of Transgenerational Trauma & Racism on Maternal Mental Health Sayida Peprah-Wilson, PsyD
December 2024
Occupational Therapy through a Trauma Lens Briana Pollard, OTD, OTR/L, SWC, CLE, CIMI
Sprouts PD – Part 3: Responding to Cues in Hot Moments Gabriela Alejos, LCSW
Sprouts PD – Part 3: Responding to Cues in Hot Moments Valerie Yarema, MSW
January 2025
0-5 Neurodevelopment: Understanding Challenging Behaviors and Building Social-Emotional Capacities through a Neuropsychological Lens Jess Bernal, LMFT
Sprouts PD – Part 4: Responding to Cues in Cool Moments Gabriela Alejos, LCSW
Sprouts PD – Part 4: Responding to Cues in Cool Moments Valerie Yarema, MSW
STAND With Me: Building Trusting Relationships During Transitions Adriana Molina, LMFT
Basics of Mindfulness for Self-Care and Managing Difficult States Marvin Belzer, PhD
February 2025
Father Involvement During Early Childhood: Pu\ng Inclusion into Practice Alan-Michael Graves, EdD, MPA
Thinking about Executive Function to Address Behavioral Difficulties in Children with Developmental Needs Stephanny Freeman, PhD
School-Based Family Engagement in Latinx Families Agustina Bertone, PhD
March 2025
Families OverComing Under Stress: Early Childhood, Part 1 + Part 2 Nastassia Hajal, PhD
Can We Be Enough as Early Childhood Professionals? Junlei Li, PhD
April 2025
Families OverComing Under Stress: Early Childhood, Part 3 + Part 4 Nastassia Hajal, PhD
May 2025
Families OverComing Under Stress: Early Childhood, Part 3 + Part 4 Nastassia Hajal, PhD
Culturaleza: Weaving Culture and Nature for Wellbeing José G. González, MS
Cultivating Wellness Through Nature-Based Education in Early Childhood Sheila Williams Ridge, MA, EdD
June 2025
Encountering Our Own Stories: Finding the Power Within Us Adriana Cuestas, PsyD
