Policy

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.

Contact Committee Chair

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

ZERO TO THREE

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Ounce of Prevention