MassAIMH Policy Committee Mission
The mission of the MassAIMH Policy Committee is to keep track of and inform the Association of legislative and political issues affecting children and families. The committee promotes an understanding of the issues and needs of children and families through education efforts with lobbyists, advocates, legislators and other public policy makers. We develop and disseminate position papers on topics related to early childhood mental health for members and for the general public, including parents, caregivers, professionals, and policy makers.
Our Agenda
- Promote Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce Development, through the implementation of the Massachusetts Competency Guidelines for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health®.
- Promote the use of DC: 0-5™ (2016), the new Diagnostic Classification System of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood published by ZERO TO THREE by Medicaid and private insurers.
- Inform MassAIMH Members on state-wide public policy and advocacy efforts on behalf of promoting social-emotional well-being of infants, young children and their families.
- Coordination with the Infant-Early Childhood Mental Health Workgroup of the Children’s Mental Health Campaign.
- Engage MassAIMH members in discussion of topics related to infant and early childhood mental health.
How to Get Involved
The MassAIMH Policy Committee welcomes new MassAIMH members! If you’re interested in learning more or joining us, please contact either of the co-chairs, Ellen Cullen or Aditi Subramaniam. The Policy committee meets every other month by conference call from 6-7:30 pm EST.
Our Statements
Read MassAIMH’s statement against racism
Read MassAIMH’s support for Early Intervention
MassAIMH Policy Committee Members
Ellen Cullen, LMHC (Co-Chair) Early Childhood Trauma Systems Specialist Institute for Health and Recovery |
Aditi Subramaniam, LMHC, R-DMT, CEIS, IMH-E® Infant Mental Health Mentor- Clinical IECMH Partnership Manager Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children |
Meg Manning, Ed.M Training Coordinator The Children’s Trust |
Carmen Rosa Noroña, LICSW, Ms.Ed., CEIS, IMH-E® Infant Mental Health Mentor- Clinical Clinical Coordinator/Boston Site ETTN Associate Director The Child Witness to Violence Project-Boston Medical Center |
Leah Koretz, LMHC, CEIS Infant & Family Mental Health Counselor Boston Children’s Hospital Early Intervention Program |
Meredith R. Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC Co-Founder and CEO Raising Harmony: Music |
April Haefner, M.S., CEIS Program Director Thom Boston Metro Early Intervention |
Elizabeth Frenette |
Alyssa Orinstein, PhD Clinical Psychologist Department of Psychiatry and The SPARK Center Boston Medical Center |
Randi Walsh, M.A. |
Resources & Links
Children’s Mental Health Campaign
Partnership for Early Childhood Mental Health
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)