We are very pleased to announce that Connected Beginnings Training Institute (CBTI), formerly an initiative of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley, has joined Wheelock College as part of its Aspire Institute. The Aspire Institute is part of the College’s Academic Affairs Division.
“Wheelock welcomes this opportunity to become the official home of Connected Beginnings Training Institute, an organization whose mission is aligned with ours — to improve the lives of children and families. CBTI’s affiliation with Aspire Institute will create opportunities for collaborative programming with Aspire’s community-based projects,” says Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President of Wheelock College.
Founded in 2006 by United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, CBTI trains early childhood practitioners to understand and support the important role that relationships play in the social and emotional development of infants and young children. Through the first half of 2011, CBTI has trained over 2,000 early childhood practitioners across Massachusetts, including teachers, social workers, nurses, pediatricians, and allied health professionals, enhancing the lives of thousands of children. CBTI training highlights the importance and practicality of bringing relationship-based infant and early childhood mental health skills to a wide variety of settings.
“CBTI is excited by this new relationship and the opportunity to increase our impact by integrating our professional development into the college’s certificate and degree-granting programs. This move represents a tremendous stride in improving pre-service and in-service training in children’s social and emotional health, as well as the mental health and well-being of their adult caregivers,” said Betsy Leutz, CBTI Director.
Both Wheelock College and CBTI commend United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley for its vision, financial support, and commitment over the past five years and look forward to a continued relationship.
About Wheelock College
Founded in 1888 and located in Boston, Massachusetts, Wheelock College is a private institution with the public mission of improving the quality of life for children and their families. The College fulfills this mission by providing a strong education in the arts and sciences and in its professional fields – child and family studies, social work, and education — for which its undergraduate and graduate programs are nationally and internationally recognized. Through its academic programs and student experience, the College reflects the multicultural dimensions of the countries in which it operates and fosters diverse learning communities — all of which contribute to the success, leadership, and impact that its graduates enjoy in a wide variety of careers. For more information, visit www.wheelock.edu. For information about the Aspire Institute, please contact Jacob Murray, Senior Director, Wheelock College at 617-879-2445 or [email protected]
About Connected Beginnings
Connected Beginnings Training Institute (CBTI) promotes awareness of the central importance of relationships in the lives of infants and young children. We assist infant and early childhood practitioners and programs to apply current knowledge of the effects of relationships on very young children’s social and emotional well being, evolving brain architecture, and capacity to learn. CBTI is now housed at Wheelock’s Hawes Graduate Campus in Brookline. For information about how to reach CBTI staff members, please call CBTI’s General Information number at Wheelock College: 617-879-1466 or visit www.connectedbeginnings.org.