Connected Beginnings Training Institute Poster Presentation at ZERO TO THREE’s National Training Institute

Laura Beals, Ph.D., Manager for Research, Evaluation, and Instructional Technology at Connected Beginnings Training Institute, presented a poster entitled “Findings from an Infant Mental Health Training Evaluation: Promising Evidence of Effectiveness of Reflective Practices” at ZERO TO THREE’s National Training Institute (NTI) on December 9, 2011 in Washington DC. The poster, authored by Mallary I. Swartz, Ph.D. (also presented), Lerzan Coskun, M.A., Elizabeth Leutz, M.S.Ed., and Dr. Beals, described an evaluation study of an Infant Mental Health (IMH) training for Early Intervention (EI) practitioners framed by systems theory. Participants were surveyed at three time points: before the training, immediately after the training, and six months to six years following their participation in training. Results showed that (a) participants’ knowledge of IMH and confidence in using effective intervention strategies increased and (b) participants felt the knowledge they acquired impacted their professional practice in positive ways. Participants also described barriers and facilitators to their success in integrating an IMH model into their work. Implications for training, practice, and policy are also discussed. A copy of the poster and accompanying handout can be downloaded from CBTI’s Publications page.