Strong Starts: Supporting Families with Early Childhood Mental Health

About the Session: The early years of life are a critical period for brain development, emotional growth, and relationship-building. This webinar explores the foundations of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) and the powerful role that family members and providers play in creating safe, nurturing environments for babies and young children. The session will offer practical strategies and resources to empower families and those who support them.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Define Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) and explain why the first years of life are critical for development.
• Recognize how stress, isolation, and unmet needs can increase risk for early childhood abuse and neglect.
• Identify protective factors that strengthen families and support healthy parent-child relationships.
• Apply practical strategies to support new parents and promote nurturing, responsive caregiving.

About the Speaker: Naeemah Staggs, MHS, is a professional educator, coach, and trainer with over 20 years of experience in child welfare. A former licensed counselor, Naeemah now works at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where she provides preservice and in-service training for Maryland’s child welfare workforce. Naeemah is also a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor and serves as a consultant for multiple organizations, including several Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs, the Mental Health Association of Maryland, EveryMind, and Darkness to Light.

Naeemah is a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist who holds a Master of Human Services (MHS) degree and a certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education at Frostburg State University.

A native Washingtonian, Naeemah is also a published children’s book author. She resides in Anne Arundel County with her husband and 11-year-old daughter.

Certificates of Attendance are available upon request. A link to request a certificate will be provided to webinar attendees. Please note that CEUs are not available at this time.