The Central California Children’s Institute at California State University, Fresno is sponsoring a daylong symposium Thursday, April 29, focusing on key elements in early emotional health of children.
The symposium, whose topic is “Nurturing the First Relationship: Embracing Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health,” will be conducted at NorthPointe Community Church, 4625 W. Palo Alto Ave., Fresno.
The principal speaker is Dr. Mary Claire Heffron, who is clinical director of the Early Childhood Mental Health Program at the Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland. She has been working in the field of early childhood intervention for nearly 40 years as a consultant and trainer in early child development and Head Start programs.
Heffron will speak at 8:55 a.m. about “What is Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health?” She and Central California Children’s Institute director Dr. Cassandra Joubert will lead a presentation about “Building Regional Capacity to Promote Infant Mental Health.”
Workshops and roundtable discussions are scheduled throughout the day, which ends after a wrap-up session at 3 p.m. moderated by Joubert.
Co-sponsors of the event are Fresno State, West Care, First 5 in Fresno, Merced and Tulare counties, Fresno County Behavioral Health and IDA (Infant Development Association) California.
Details about the symposium are available by calling 559.228.2150 or athttp://ifmhcommunityevent.eventbrite.com/.
For more information about the institute, visit www.centralcaliforniachildren.org.
