Ready! Resilient! Utah Early Childhood Mental Health Conference

Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Mountain America Expo Center

Join experts, leaders, and advocates to learn more about the importance of infant and early childhood mental health in Utah.

CEUs and CMEs available!

UPA, NASW, and ACCME approved

 

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Partnership and Tabling Opportunities Available!

View our Menu of Engagement for more information about how to partner with us at this year's conference. 

 

Keynote Speakers

 

Childhood – The Springtime of Humanity

MARY GORDON
Founder/President/CEO
Roots of Empathy
Mary's full bio

Early Childhood Mental Health in Utah: 2026 Update

LAURA SUMMERS, MPP
Director of Public Policy Research, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, David Eccles School of Business 
Laura's Bio

Laura Summers serves as the director of public policy research at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, conducting research on policy issues and impacts to the Utah economy. She oversees a team of policy researchers that specializes in education, energy & natural resources, health & human services, housing, construction, & real estate, and travel & tourism.  Summers has expertise in economics, public policy, and health care research. Her professional experience includes research for the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. In health care, Summers’ research focus is state-level health reform, with a particular focus on Medicaid, behavioral health, and early childhood mental health policy and systems.  Prior to joining the Institute, Summers was the senior director of state intelligence at Leavitt Partners, where she prepared detailed studies of state-by-state comparative data and analyzed national and state health care programs, policies, and trends. In addition to providing research and consulting services to payers, providers, and other health care companies, Summers led health care reform initiatives in states such as Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington State. Summers also oversaw the Leavitt Partners teams in designing, managing, and facilitating stakeholder engagement processes for state government projects.  Summers previously served as the research director of the Utah Foundation – a nonprofit research firm that publishes reports on issues affecting government policies. Summers received her master of Public Policy with an emphasis in public economics from Brigham Young University and her Bachelor’s degree in economics from Westminster College. 

Unleashing Joy

NEAL DAVIS, MD, MS
Associate Chief Medical Officer, Intermountain Children’s Health, Canyons Region 
Neal's Bio

Dr. Neal Davis is a certified pediatrician who has practiced at Hillcrest Pediatrics in Murray, Utah since 2010.  He is currently the senior medical director for Community Population Health for Intermountain Children's Health.  After earning his medical degree in 2003 from the University of Utah, he completed residencies in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Iowa. He then completed a research fellowship in general pediatrics at University of Michigan and obtained a master’s degree in Healthcare and Healthcare Research.  He currently is on the executive board for the Utah Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Voices for Utah Children, and Intermountain Children's Health Executive Council.  His personal mission is to unleash the joy and potential of each child. 

REBECCA J. DUTSON
President and CEO, The Children's Center Utah

JENNIFER MITCHELL, PHD,
IECMH-E
Vice President, Clinical Strategy and Innovation, The Children’s Center Utah 
Jennifer's Bio

 

Morning Breakouts

 Feeding the Baby, Supporting the Family: Rethinking Baby-Friendly Messaging Through an IECMH Lens 

ANABEL CASTILLO, PHD
Program Associate for Center for Early Childhood, WestEd
Anabel's Bio

 

Dr. Anabel Castillo is a Program Associate at WestEd supporting Early Childhood Learning and Development, where she leads content development and professional learning to strengthen birth–9 Approaches to Learning teaching and learning. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Merced, with research focused on executive function and bilingualism, and completed a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Oklahoma’s Early Childhood Education Institute. Her work spans early learning standards and infant/toddler guidance, including lead authorship and editorial contributions for state resources in California and Maryland. She is also a Co-Principal Investigator on the Baby Friendly Hospitals project, funded by the Mental Health Research & Community Engagement Fund, examining how Baby Friendly Hospital initiatives relate to maternal mental health.   

MARISSA DIENER, PHD
Professor, Family & Consumer Studies, University of Utah 
Marissa's Bio

 

Marissa Diener is a Professor in Family & Consumer Studies at the University of Utah and Co‑Director of the Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Her research focuses on children’s development and wellbeing across diverse contexts, with particular attention to parent–child relationships and healthcare settings. She holds degrees in Developmental Psychology and is committed to advancing research and practice that support young children and families.   

LUKAS LOPEZ, PHD
Assistant Professor, Family Consumer Studies, University of Utah
Lukas's Bio

 

Lukas Lopez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah. His research focuses on affective science, social development, and communication in infancy and childhood. He teaches courses on understanding child behavior, with research interests in early care and education.  


Won't You Be Our Neighbor? Aligning the Strengthening Families
Curriculum to PBS KIDS resources to support protective factors

ANNIE FRAZIER, MS
Education Manager, PBS Utah
Annie's Bio

 

Annie Frazier is the Education Manager for PBS KIDS Utah. Annie studied Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Utah, where she received her undergraduate degree in Family Studies as well as a master’s degree in Human Development and Social Policy. Her research includes; preschoolers using educational apps, parents mediating screen time, maternal stress, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), and quality early learning practices. Annie has been working in the community with non-profit organizations in the Early Childhood Education field for over 25 years. Annie has been an early education school director, curriculum director, summer camp director, preschool teacher, grant specialist, infant and toddler development specialist, child development associate's mentor, university lab school instructor, and early childhood mental health consultant. She served as the Accreditation Chair for the Utah Association for the Education of Young Children for 2 terms. Annie was awarded UtahPresents Preschool Teacher of the Year during her time at the Pingree School for Children with Autism. She was recognized with the University of Utah Staff Excellence Award for Exemplary Service, has been appointed to the University of Utah’s Committee for Equal Opportunity, the Fred Rogers Productions Station Advisory Committee, and previously served on the state of Utah’s School Readiness Board. Annie loves spending time with family. They love going to movies, playing games, riding bikes, watching beach sunsets, and road trips. She has a passion for sharing her love of literacy, social-emotional learning, and the arts with young children, parents, and educators. Annie is an advocate for neuro-diverse learners and wants to help create opportunities for all children throughout the state to enjoy the PBS KIDS resources and activities.   

MELANIE PEHRSON-NOYCE, MS
Education Coordinator, PBS Utah
Melanie's Bio

 

An avid reader, mother of 3 small children, and a regular user of libraries, I believe in the power of public spaces and believe they are truly palaces for the people. I work on PBS Utah as education coordinator to facilitate the distribution of educational tools PBS has to offer. Priorities include deepening and expanding community partner relationships (especially libraries) through our successful annual programs, namely, the Writers & Illustrators Contest and the Reading Marathon & Adventure Pass. I believe strongly that investment in quality early childhood development through supporting the whole family is how we succeed as neighborhoods and communities. I have a master's in Human Development and Social Policy from the University of Utah. 


Relationships are the Foundation: IECMH and the Pyramid Model  

 

Ilse DeKoeyer

ILSE DEKOEYER, PHD
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Utah, Past President, Utah Association for Infant Mental Health
Ilse's Bio

 

Dr. Ilse DeKoeyer is a Pyramid Model External Coach with the Utah Pyramid Model at Utah State University. She is also an Adjunct Instructor, and former Career-line Associate Professor, at the University of Utah. She directs the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate Capstone class and teaches other developmental psychology classes. Dr. Ilse was a founding  Board Member of the Utah Association for Infant Mental Health (UAIMH), where she still volunteers in the Events and Professional Development Committees. From 2015-2025, she worked at Help Me Grow Utah and was connected to many other early childhood organizations and professionals across the state. She loves supporting babies, young children, their caregivers, and the systems around them! She has a background in parent-child relationship research, with Dr. Alan Fogel, and is a passionate IECMH advocate. She is trained in Ways of Seeing (by Dr. Suzi Tortora) and the FAN model. Dr. Ilse integrates movement, mindfulness, and connection into all of her work, including through Ever Expanding Circles

 

 

Domestic Violence Providers’ Reflections on Identity, Lived Experience,
and Trauma-Informed Practice

KARA BYRNE, MSW, PHD
Senior Health and Human Services Analyst, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, David Eccles School of Business
Kara's Bio

 

Kara Byrne is the senior health and human services research analyst with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute where she provides research, analysis, and facilitation of stakeholder engagement related to a broad range of current and proposed public policies. She primarily uses mixed methods, qualitative, and community-based research methods, focusing on multi-disciplinary research teams and stakeholder engagement. 

DEVON MUSSON ROSE, LCSW
Assistant Professor, Utah Valley University, College of Humanities and Social Science, Bachelor of Social Work Program
Devon's Bio

 

Dr. Musson Rose's research, teaching, and mentorship are informed by over 17 years of clinical practice and organizational leadership. Devon’s research and teaching interests focus broadly on using trauma-informed care and interventions to improve the well-being of young children, ages birth to 7 years, whose voices are often marginalized or overlooked, and the families and service providers who care for them. 

ERICA MURDOCH, LCSW, ECMH-E®
Director of Field Education, Utah Valley University, Bachelor of Social Work Program 
Erica's Bio

 

Erica Murdoch, LCSW, is a clinical social worker and Research Assistant at the University of Utah College of Social Work (CSW) Translational Research. She specializes in early childhood mental health, trauma, PTSD, and child-parent psychotherapy, with additional expertise in adoption, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders. 

 

Challenging Behavior and Expulsion in Early Childhood: Utah Provider Perspectives 

ALYSSE LOOMIS, LCSW, PHD
Associate Professor, University of Utah College of Social Work
Alysse's Bio

 

Alysse Loomis, PhD is a licensed clinical social worker and Associate Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating trauma-informed early childhood systems to promote well-being for young children who have experienced adversity and trauma. Alysse also teaches courses on trauma-informed interventions and human development and is co-Project Director of a federally funded infant mental-health training grant for social work and early-intervention graduate students. Alysse has also worked as a trauma-informed infant and early childhood mental health clinician, which informs her teaching and research. Dr. Loomis is on the board of the Utah Association of Infant Mental Health and the Editorial Board for the social work journal Families in Society. 

TIFFANY PERRY, MPP
State Coordinator, Utah Infant Toddler Court Program, The Children's Center Utah
Tiffany's Bio

 

Tiffany Perry, MPP, is the State Coordinator for the Infant Toddler Court Program (ITCP) at The Children’s Center Utah, where she leads statewide implementation of the ZERO TO THREE Safe Babies approach. She serves as the chair for the Social Emotional Subcommittee of Early Childhood Utah. With experience ranging from direct family support to statewide systems work, she brings expertise in early childhood development, attachment-focused interventions, and cross-system collaboration. 

CRISTINA BARRERA

Cristina's Bio

 

As a dedicated Preschool Education Specialist with extensive experience in early childhood education, I have had the privilege of working with diverse communities to enhance the quality of preschool programs. I have marked my journey in this field with a commitment to fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for young children. My previous experiences include working as an Early Childhood Administration Consultant, where I provided guidance and support to preschool programs in various settings. I have also served as an Early Childhood Center Director and Preschool Educator, gaining firsthand experience in the classroom and understanding the unique needs of young learners.  

 

Supporting Neurodivergent Children for Lifelong Well-Being  

RENÉ BAKER, MAT
Director of Intake & Outreach at Advanced Behavior Analysis 
René's Bio

 

René leads referral development and community engagement at Advanced Behavior Analysis, overseeing intake operations to ensure families move seamlessly from initial contact through their first attended session. Throughout her career, she has been driven by equity and drawn to students with learning differences. She began supporting autistic children as a college student working in an after school program, an experience that sparked a commitment to improving outcomes for neurodivergent learners and championing inclusive school environments.   Before joining Advanced Behavior Analysis, René served across the P–20 system as a teacher, instructional coach, school director, district leader, and graduate instructor. She brings a trauma informed lens and an educator's perspective that complements the clinical team. René builds trusted partnerships with physicians, payors, and schools to clarify what neurodiversity affirming ABA looks like and equips caregivers and educators with tools that foster positive, sustainable outcomes for children. 

JAIMIE D'AGOSTINI, M.ED, BCBA, LBA
Director of Education at Advanced Behavior Education 
Jaimie's Bio

 

Jaimie has worked in Applied Behavior Analysis since 2012 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2016. As a neurodivergent clinician and a parent to neurodivergent kids, she brings both professional and lived experience to her work. Jaimie values a whole-child, neurodiversity-affirming approach that centers connection, safety, and compassion. She prioritizes emotional and sensory needs, communication, and self-advocacy, with the goal of supporting families in helping kids access their world in the most empowering, least restrictive way. Her specialties include working with teens, tweens, ADHDers, and children with a PDA profile, where flexibility, collaboration, and trust are at the heart of her practice. 

 

Strengthening the Utah Home Visiting Workforce: An Evaluation of Modifiable Professional Supports

EMMA GREEN, MPH
Epidemiologist II, Home Visiting Program, Utah DHHS 
Emma's Bio

 

Emma Green is an epidemiologist with the Home Visiting Program at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. She has seven years of experience in early childhood. In her role she provides analytic support for MIECHV and other state-funded home visiting programs for program evaluation and improvement. She supports program compliance by designing data capture instruments as well as writing technical reports and communicating with local implementing agencies.

ELIZABETH VANSANT-WEBB, MAT, MED
Program Manager, Home Visiting Program, Utah DHHS, Office of Early Childhood, Division of Family Health
Elizabeth's Bio

 

Elizabeth VanSant-Webb is the program manager for the Home Visiting Program at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. She is a strategic thinker and leader with 10+ years of experience in various education contexts and cross-sector collaborations. Known for leading and tackling complex projects to effect meaningful, systemic change in collaboration with stakeholders, colleagues, and communities. She has a proven track record facilitating processes to create complex, replicable systems, programs, and policies to scale, sustain, and measure impact. She consistently demonstrates high proficiency in facilitating meetings, presentations, and managing external relationships with partners across early childhood systems.

JENNY YANG DU, MSN, RN
Supervisor, Parents as Teachers Program, Utah County Health Department 
Jenny's Bio

 

Jenny Du, MSN, RN, is the Supervisor of the Parents as Teachers program at the Utah County Health Department, where she leads an evidence-based home visiting program that supports families with young children. She has more than 20 years of nursing experience, including 15 years as a pediatric nurse, with expertise in pediatric and maternal-child health. In addition to her public health role, she teaches nursing students in maternal-newborn and pediatric nursing, helping prepare the next generation of nurses to provide compassionate, family-centered care. Her professional passion is promoting infant and early childhood mental health by strengthening parent-child relationships, supporting early development, and connecting families with community resources. She enjoys bridging clinical practice, public health, and education to improve outcomes for children and families and is committed to advancing awareness of the critical importance of mental health during the earliest years of life. 

ELIZABETH RIVERA
Parent Educator, Cache County MIECHV 

 


Beyond the ER: Interdisciplinary Pediatric Crisis Care 


MARK GIBSON, RN, BSN
Behavioral Health Supervisor, Huntsman Mental Health Institute - Youth Crisis Care Program
Mark's Bio

 

Mark Gibson is the Behavioral Health Supervisor of Nursing for Youth Crisis Care at Huntsman Mental Health, and helped develop and launch the Youth Crisis Care program in July 2025. He specializes in pediatric crisis stabilization, focusing on developmentally appropriate care for young children and adolescents. His work includes designing therapeutic milieus, supporting neurodivergent populations, and implementing nursing-driven interventions that promote safety, co-regulation, and engagement. He collaborates across disciplines to reduce emergency department utilization and improve access to crisis services, with a focus on building scalable, family-centered models of care. He has worked in emergency room settings across the country and provided care to patients of all ages in these settings. 

CALLIE ROBISON, LCSW
Behavioral Health Supervisor, Huntsman Mental Health Institute - Youth Crisis Care Program 
Callie's Bio

 

Callie is a Behavioral Health Supervisor of Social Work at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, supporting both the Clinical Assessment Center and Youth Crisis Care program. She has spent the past six years working in crisis services, with a focus on assessment, referral pathways, and helping individuals and families navigate what can often feel like an overwhelming mental health system. She has played a role in the development and launch of the Youth Crisis Care program, helping expand access to crisis services for youth in the community. In her current role, she provides clinical supervision and supports the clinical day-to-day operation in often high-acuity settings. Prior to this role, she has worked in outpatient therapy with adults, children, and families and as a case manager, experiences that continue to shape her approach to collaboration and whole-family care. Her work focuses on improving the patient and family experience during crisis, with an emphasis on making care as accessible and manageable as possible on some of their hardest days. 

SARAH PORTER, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Lead APC, Huntsman Mental Health Institute - Youth Crisis Care Program
Sarah's Bio

 

Sarah T. Porter, DNP, has enjoyed working in health care since 2004, primarily in the mental health field. After completing a doctoral program at the University of Utah in 2020, she started her practice as a prescriber at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, where she has provided patient care in nursing leadership roles for over 15 years. Her academic interest is psychiatric care and mental health management for underserved populations. She is board certified in psychiatric care across the lifespan by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (Utah Chapter Board Member, 2018–2020) and the American Nurses Association. 

AMY WILSON, MD
Supporting Psychiatrist, Huntsman Mental Health Institute - Youth Crisis Care Program 
Amy's Bio

 

Amy Wilson, MD, Assistant Professor (Clinical), earned her medical degree at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She completed psychiatry residency at University of Washington and returned to the University of Utah for a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry. She served as chief resident during both her adult psychiatry training at UW and her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Wilson’s academic interests include medical education, cross-cultural psychiatry and gender dysphoria. She is an active member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is board-certified in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Wilson is a child and adolescent inpatient hospitalist at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute. Additionally, her newest role is Supporting Psychiatrist for the Huntsman Mental Health Institute Youth Crisis Care Program. 
 

Afternoon Breakouts

Talk to Tots: Teaching children the ABCs of emotional regulation 

STEPHANIE STOKES, MPH
Community Health Manager, Children’s Health, Intermountain Health 
Stephanie's Bio

 

Stephanie is the Community Health Manager for all three Primary Children’s Hospital campuses. In this role, she leads strategic operations and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to implement the Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Implementation Strategy. She monitors progress and outcomes of children's health initiatives within the hospitals and the community they serve. Utilizing her ten years of experience in consumer and public health research and evaluation, she is passionate about strategies that move upstream to address root causes, such as social needs, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and perinatal health. She is a leader in the Talk to Tweens program and its expansion. Stephanie also enjoys spending time outside with her family and cooking with green chiles from her home state of NM. 

JACE MEIER, MHA
Children’s Community Health Consultant, Primary Children’s Hospital 
Jace's Bio

 

Jace Meier is a Children’s Community Health Consultant with Primary Children’s Hospital. As part of this role, he directs the creation and implementation of the Healthy Kids Scorecard. The scorecard is a population health-based initiative designed to measurably improve the health and wellbeing for Utah children. Working with community coalitions, the scorecard provides real-time data indicators to help keep collaborators involved and working through a quality improvement framework. Currently this work is supporting coalitions in Mental Wellbeing, Preventive Services, Infant Mortality/Prematurity, and Injury prevention. Jace loves this work and is a firm believer in keeping ourselves grounded in data-driven decision making as we move upstream. He received his master's in healthcare administration from the University of Utah and loves the unique perspective it gives him when applied to Community Health. When he’s not thinking about community health, he enjoys bringing together friends and family with a nice charcuterie board. 

MALINDA FREITAG, CMHC, IECMH-E®
Senior Clinical Director, The Children’s Center Utah 
Malinda's Bio

 

Malinda Freitag is a licensed clinical mental health counselor specializing in Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH). Her extensive experience encompasses diverse settings, including psychiatric hospitals, Veterans Affairs, juvenile justice centers, and community mental health clinics, with a consistent focus on trauma assessment and treatment. Currently, as Senior Clinical Director at The Children's Center Utah (TCCU), she leads all outpatient mental health programs for children birth to age six and their families. Malinda provides expert consultation and supervision in IECMH and in evidence-based treatments such as Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC), and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Notably, she is nationally rostered and a certified trainer/supervisor in CPP, a certified supervisor and internal trainer in ARC, and has advanced clinical training in TF-CBT. Malinda is also a certified trainer in the Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) and Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) models as well as the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-5). She holds multiple national mental health endorsements and actively supports Utah’s ongoing endorsement efforts. As a member of its inaugural Leadership Cohort, she was instrumental in launching the Infant Mental Health Endorsement program. In addition to her clinical leadership, Malinda has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Utah Department of Psychology for 12 years. She also regularly provides community presentations and consultations on infant and early childhood mental health, trauma, attachment, and reflective supervision to professionals across Utah. Moreover, she serves on numerous committees and working groups dedicated to enhancing the well-being of young children and their families. 

 

Parent Child Interaction Therapy- Teacher Edition 

ALYSSA COHEN, LCSW
Pediatric Mental Health Therapist, Primary Children’s Center for Safe and Healthy Families 
Alyssa's Bio

 

Alyssa Cohen, CSW is a pediatric mental health therapist at Primary Children’s Center for Safe and Healthy Families, specializing in early relational health, caregiver support, systems-level understanding of both families and communities in the context of traumatic experiences. In addition to her current role, Alyssa serves as a part-time Instructor with The Children’s Center Utah (TCCU), where she supports early care and education professionals in applying trauma-informed practices to promote healing and resilience in young children. Prior to entering the mental health field, Alyssa spent 13 years embedded in early care and education working as a classroom educator, Head Start Education Coordinator, and DCFS caseworker in Upstate NY. She is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and is finalizing certification for Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Alyssa holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Delaware, a M.S. in Early Childhood Advocacy and Policy from Walden University, a Certificate in Infant Early Childhood Mental Health from Montclair University, and a Masters of Social Work from Fordham University. 

GUILIANNA GARCIA, LCSW
Pediatric Mental Health Therapist, Primary Children’s Center for Safe and Healthy Families 
Guilianna's Bio

 

Giulianna Garcia is a pediatric mental health therapist at Primary Children’s Center for Safe and Healthy Families. She has 13 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and families who have been affected by traumatic experiences. She works alongside a multidisciplinary team which includes a psychiatrist, pediatric psychologists, and social workers. In addition, she provides mental health therapy on an outpatient basis with children ages 3-18. Her work has focused on social-emotional development, behavior regulation, and helping children thrive after traumatic experiences. She is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and is a facilitator for Core Curriculum on Childhood Trauma (CCCT). She is currently completing her certification for Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). She completed her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies and a Master of Social Work at the University of Utah.  

The Compassionate Pause: Systemic Wayfinding and Dyadic Stabilization 

EDUARDO BONILLA, MS CMHC
Program Manager, Youth Inpatient Hospital Liaison, Southwest Behavioral Health Center 
Eduardo's Bio

 

Eduardo Bonilla, M.S., CMHC, is the Youth Inpatient Hospital Liaison Program Manager at Southwest Behavioral Health Center in St. George, Utah. Blending expertise in clinical ethics and strategic forecasting, Eduardo developed the Phronetic Forecasting Model, an initiative that helped a 5-county region achieve a 27.6% reduction in Medicaid-funded youth inpatient hospitalizations. As a TBRI Practitioner, his clinical work focuses on dyadic stabilization, equipping caregivers to navigate high-arousal crises. Deeply committed to cross-sector partnership, Eduardo serves as Co-chair of the Children's Coordination meeting for Utah's 13 Local Mental Health Authorities and as a Strategic Member of the Utah Early Childhood Mental Health Working Group. His systemic frameworks for trauma prevention have garnered international recognition, recently receiving an Honourable Mention for the 2026 Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) Prize. Also, an appointed Expert Reviewer for the Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) International Honor Society, Eduardo's work supports professionals in shifting from reactive triage to proactive, family-centered wayfinding.

 

The Road to Child Welfare System Prevention in UtaH

JENNIFER MITCHELL, PHD,
IECMH-E
Vice President, Clinical Strategy and Innovation, The Children’s Center Utah 
Jennifer's Bio

 

Dr. Mitchell is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health and certified in perinatal mental health. She is a member of the ZERO TO THREE National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families Academy of Fellows. Dr. Mitchell is trained in multiple evidence-based treatments for trauma and a certified trainer/supervisor in multiple treatments and early childhood models. She serves as Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Innovation at The Children’s Center Utah, a non-profit mental health organization serving children birth to six years and their families. She holds an Adjunct Assistant Professor position in the University of Utah’s College of Social Work. Dr. Mitchell’s work is focused on working collaboratively with public and private partners at the local and state level to ensure families with young children have access to the mental health services they need, and that the providers serving families have the training and support necessary to deliver high quality, evidence-informed services. 

TIFFANY PERRY, MPP
State Coordinator, Utah Infant Toddler Court Program, The Children's Center Utah 
Tiffany's Bio

 

Tiffany Perry, MPP, is the State Coordinator for the Infant Toddler Court Program (ITCP) at The Children’s Center Utah, where she leads statewide implementation of the ZERO TO THREE Safe Babies approach. She serves as the chair for the Social Emotional Subcommittee of Early Childhood Utah. With experience ranging from direct family support to statewide systems work, she brings expertise in early childhood development, attachment-focused interventions, and cross-system collaboration. 

MARGAUX MILLER, MD
Assistant Professor General Pediatrics & Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine Department of Pediatric Behavioral Health
Margaux's Bio

 

Dr. Miller is a pediatrician and child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University Pediatrics Clinic. She provides care to patients and families in the SUPeRAD (Substance Use & Pregnancy – Recovery, Addiction, Dependence) specialty clinic. This multi-disciplinary clinic serves pregnant and postpartum individuals with substance use disorders and provides tailored general pediatric care for their children with emphasis on fostering early childhood development and maternal mental health. Dr. Miller is also part of the Primary Children’s Hospital NICU Behavioral Health Team, supporting family and neonate mental wellbeing during their admission. 

 


The Practice of Developing Effective Guidance Policy

HANNAH BLUHM, MHE®
Lead Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant, The Children's Center Utah
Hannah's Bio

 

Hannah Bluhm, IMH-E has eleven years of experience in the early childhood field and a Bachelor of Science in Art Therapy. She is an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant at The Children’s Center Utah. Before TCCU, she worked with families, children, and early childhood educators in many different settings, including Head Start administration, Early Intervention, and grief support. She is passionate about supporting and advocating for children and early childhood educators, especially when it comes to systems change. She believes that early childhood education not only impacts individual children’s lives and futures, but our collective future. The ripple effects of early, responsive relationships go on for generations! 

Development, Experience, and Environment: The Big Three Influences on Behavior

LAURIE HATCH, MS
Retired, California Community College, Consultant, Positive Discipline Association 
Laurie's Bio

 

Laurie Prusso-Hatch has 40 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. Her BA is in human development; emphasis in developmental psychology and her M.S. degree is in Education, emphasis in Early Childhood. For 20 years Laurie taught college full time as a professor of child development. Prior to her college teaching career her experience included teaching and directing programs for young children, Primary Intervention, parent education and college laboratory programs. Laurie is a certified parent educator and trainer with the Positive Discipline Association and she has proficiency leading adults in experiential learning. Her specific expertise is in helping professionals understand and work effectively with children who exhibit challenging behaviors and trauma. Her emphasis is the influence of adult relationships on both the children and the adults who teach them.  Laurie has worked with CCSEFEL, Active Parenting, and she is a student of mindfulness practices and healing from Trauma.  In her college role, she has served as a coordinator with the Child Development Training Consortium and on many advisory boards and panels. Now retired, Laurie continues to teach adults and write about how children learn and grow.  She has been a regular presenter at CAEYC conferences since 1991. In addition, she has presented at the CAEYC Professional Development Forum, at the National Association for the Education of Young Children conference, the California First 5 Child Health, Education and Care Summits, PACE Conferences and a variety of other local and state program conferences.


Trauma-Informed Care: Supporting Regulation, Relationships, & Resilience

LISA A. DAVENPORT, PHD, IMH-E®
Program Manager, Part C Coordinator, Baby Watch Early Intervention Program, Utah Department of Health and Human Services 
Lisa's Bio

 

Lisa A. Davenport, Ph.D., IMH-E® is the Program Manager for the Baby Watch Early Intervention Program and Utah’s Part C Coordinator. She has spent over 30 years working in early intervention and special education as a direct service provider, adjunct professor at the University of Utah, and early childhood program administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology, and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Early Childhood Special Education. She also holds a Utah Early Intervention Specialist Credential and Infant Mental Health Endorsement. She is involved with local, state, and national workgroups and advisory boards that focus on improving outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families, including being a board member for the IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association. Her research and scholarly interests include Neonatal Intensive Care, early intervention, early numeracy intervention, early childhood special education, and infant mental health. Over the years, Dr. Davenport has published articles and delivered state and national presentations in each of these areas. When she is not working, Lisa loves to travel and enjoy Utah’s beautiful outdoors with her husband and son.  

HEATHER WATERS, SSW, GUCEI, IMH-E®
Performance Auditor, Baby Watch Early Intervention Program, Utah Department of Health and Human Services 
Heather's Bio

 

Heather Waters, B.S., SSW, IMH-E, is a dedicated professional in the field of Early Childhood with over 20 years of experience. Throughout her career, she has specialized in supporting children with developmental delays and disabilities, as well as supporting families navigating the complexities of environmental stressors, including poverty, substance abuse, and domestic violence. In addition to being a licensed Social Service Worker (SSW), Heather holds an Infant Mental Health Endorsement and is advancing her expertise as a candidate for the Reflective Consultant endorsement. Her academic foundation includes a B.S. in Psychology and Social Science, complemented by a graduate-level certificate in Early Intervention from Georgetown University. As a Certified Trainer in Trauma-Informed Care and a Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices Ambassador, she is a nationally recognized leader in the field. Despite her professional accolades, Heather considers her greatest and most rewarding roles to be those of wife and mother to her three incredible children. 


The Keystones of Development: Relational Health Skills to Foster and Promote Early Childhood Development, Early Infant Mental Health, and Positive Parenting

QUANG-TUYEN NGUYEN, MD
Associate Professor, Division of General Pediatrics, Vice Chair for HERO, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah
Quang-Tuyen's Bio

 

Dr. Quang-Tuyen T. Nguyen is an associate professor in the Division of General Pediatrics and the Vice-chair for Health Equity, Respect, and Opportunity (HERO) in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah serving the larger community through the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Intermountain Medical Center. Dr. Nguyen’s research, advocacy, and education interests focus on early childhood experiences, working with under-resourced families and supporting family units using frameworks of relational health and preventative care. She believes that families who are least resourced are the ones most at risk of longer term behavioral and physical health issues across their lifespan. Empowering patients to be seen and cared for in a humanistic health system ensures resilience, family and community cohesion, and medical service that is individually appropriate and relevant. 

KATHERINE FORTENBERRY, PHD
Professor, University of Utah 
Katherine's Bio

 

Katherine (Katie) Fortenberry, Ph.D., graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor's in Psychology, then received her Master's and Ph.D. in Psychology with a focus in Clinical Health from the University of Utah. She completed her internship training in Clinical Health Psychology at the Memphis VA Medical Center, and a postdoctoral fellowship in Primary Care Psychology in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She is currently a Professor (Clinical) in the University of Utah Division of Family Medicine, where she serves as the Behavioral Science Education Director and sees patients for consultations and brief, solution-focused therapy at Sugarhouse Health Center. Her overall goal is to promote effective treatment of mental and behavioral health concerns in primary care settings by: 1) educating family physicians and other healthcare professionals to effectively utilize behavior change principles and maintain their own self-care; 2) training psychology and medical trainees to effectively work in an interdisciplinary environment; 3) increasing access to high quality care through improving behavioral health services and reducing barriers to care.

SUSAN COCHELLA, MD, MPH
Professor, University of Utah 
Susan's Bio

 

Susan E. W. Cochella, M.D., M.P.H., is a board certified family medicine physician who specializes in full spectrum care for patients of all ages. She received her medical degree from the University of Nevada, completed residency at the University of Utah, as well as a faculty development fellowship and master’s in public health. Her professional interests include the care of children, adolescents, and young families, patient-centered care prioritizing mental and emotional health, health and workforce policy, leadership skills, and education. In her leisure time, Dr. Cochella enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, mountain biking, skiing, and learning new things with friends or family.

 

 

Posters

 

Watch, Ask, Adapt: Responsive Caregiving That Builds Emotionally Secure Relationships

ANABEL CASTILLO, PHD
Program Associate for Center for Early Childhood, WestEd. 
Anabel's Bio

 

Dr. Anabel Castillo is a Program Associate at WestEd supporting Early Childhood Learning and Development, where she leads content development and professional learning to strengthen birth–9 Approaches to Learning teaching and learning. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Merced, with research focused on executive function and bilingualism, and completed a postdoctoral appointment at the University of Oklahoma’s Early Childhood Education Institute. Her work spans early learning standards and infant/toddler guidance, including lead authorship and editorial contributions for state resources in California and Maryland. She is also a Co-Principal Investigator on the Baby Friendly Hospitals project, funded by the Mental Health Research & Community Engagement Fund, examining how Baby Friendly Hospital initiatives relate to maternal mental health.  

PETER L. MANGIONE, PHD
Senior Director of Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives, WestEd.
Peter's Bio

 

Peter L. Mangione is Senior Director of Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives at WestEd and Director of the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC), where he leads professional learning resources for infant/toddler educators and the evaluation of early childhood programs. His work has helped establish PITC as a national model for training early childhood practitioners. He has led efforts to develop early learning standards, curriculum and program guidelines, resources for young dual language learners, and early childhood educator competencies, and he was a principal collaborator on the California Department of Education’s Desired Results Developmental Profile. Mangione earned a BA in psychology from Oakland University and an MS and PhD from the University of Rochester; he also studied at the Merrill-Palmer Institute for Child and Family Studies and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry in Munich, Germany, where he specialized in infant development.  

 



Therapeutic Music Strategies in Early Childhood Setting

JASMINE CRESPO
Research Associate, Department of Psychology, University of Utah
Jasmine's Bio

 

Jasmine Crespo is a Research Associate and Assessment/Intervention Coordinator in the Health Adaptations in Relationships Team (HEART Lab) at the University of Utah Department of Psychology. Jasmine earned her BS in Psychology at the University of Utah, with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies and a certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in 2024. Her interest in therapeutic music strategies developed during a seven-month internship at The Sammy Center, a trauma-responsive, strengths-focused preschool serving children with diverse developmental and social-emotional needs in Millcreek, Utah. She is passionate about cultivating resilience, especially in the context of relationships, and supporting children and families in building the skills they need to thrive. In her spare time she loves singing and playing sports with her friends, nieces and nephews, playing piano, crafting, and finding her stray golf balls. 

Supporting Early Childhood Mental Health During Experiences of Homelessness

ALYSSA R. PALMER, PHD
Assistant Professor, Licensed Psychologist, University of Utah
Alyssa's Bio

 

Dr. Alyssa Palmer is an assistant professor at the University of Utah and clinical child psychologist. Her work focuses on identifying mechanisms of risk and resilience for early childhood mental health in the context of poverty. She works across the translational research spectrum and aims to conduct studies that have direct implications for policy and practice. 

Tracing Trauma: Prenatal Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Neonatal Outcomes 

ERIN L. TODD, BS
Clinical Psychology PhD Student at the University of Utah 
Erin's Bio

 

Erin is a second-year clinical psychology graduate at the University of Utah. She aims to explore the intergenerational transmission of stress and psychopathology. In both research and clinical practice, she focuses on mental health challenges facing children and families during early and middle childhood. She enjoys crossword puzzles, watching drama movies, and traveling in her free time.



LILLYBELLE DEER, PHD
Assistant Professor, University of Utah
Lillybelle's Bio

 

LillyBelle is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on risk and resilience processes in the prenatal and postnatal periods that influence biology, behavior, and health across development. She aims to uncover potential pathways that could be ideal targets of prevention and intervention for families. She enjoys trail running, relaxing with her dogs, and reading thriller mystery books in her spare time.

 

Parent Emotion Regulation and Real-Time Experiences of Joy, Surprise, Anger, Pride, and Guilt 

YE RANG PARK
Assistant Professor, University of Utah
Ye's Bio

 

Ye Rang Park is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on promoting positive early childhood development by strengthening family relationships and improving parent well-being. In her research, she works closely with socioeconomically and marginalized families to understand family resilience and strength as a way to support families' coping with stress and positive parenting. She holds a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. 

MARISSA DIENER, PHD
Professor, Family & Consumer Studies, University of Utah 
Marissa's Bio

 

Marissa Diener is a Professor in Family & Consumer Studies at the University of Utah and Co‑Director of the Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Her research focuses on children’s development and wellbeing across diverse contexts, with particular attention to parent–child relationships and healthcare settings. She holds degrees in Developmental Psychology and is committed to advancing research and practice that support young children and families.   

LUKAS LOPEZ, PHD
Assistant Professor, Family Consumer Studies, University of Utah
Lukas's Bio

 

Lukas Lopez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah. His research focuses on affective science, social development, and communication in infancy and childhood. He teaches courses on understanding child behavior, with research interests in early care and education.  

 

Roots to Resilience: Greenspace Exposure and Child Stress Physiology

KELSEY SENNETT, BS
PhD student, University of Utah 
Kelsey's Bio

 

Kelsey is a second-year graduate student in the developmental psychology area at the University of Utah. She is passionate about exploring how environmental sources of risk and resilience, including air pollution, neighborhood quality, and access to greenspace, affect physiological outcomes across early development. In her free time, Kelsey enjoys exploring her local greenspaces, doing hot yoga, and spending time with friends. 

ERIN L. TODD, BS
Clinical Psychology PhD Student, University of Utah
Erin's Bio

 

Erin is a second-year clinical psychology graduate at the University of Utah. She aims to explore the intergenerational transmission of stress and psychopathology. In both research and clinical practice, she focuses on mental health challenges facing children and families during early and middle childhood. She enjoys crossword puzzles, watching drama movies, and traveling in her free time. 

LILLYBELLE DEER, PHD
Assistant Professor, University of Utah
Lillybelle's Bio

 

LillyBelle is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on risk and resilience processes in the prenatal and postnatal periods that influence biology, behavior, and health across development. She aims to uncover potential pathways that could be ideal targets of prevention and intervention for families. She enjoys trail running, relaxing with her dogs, and reading thriller mystery books in her spare time.  

 

Measuring What Matters: Assessing Trauma-Informed Teaching in Early Childhood

ZACHARY HAGGERTY, MS
University of Utah
Zachary's Bio

 

Zachary Haggerty is a recent graduate of the Master of Social Work program at the University of Utah. With a background in bilingual and early childhood education, he has experience in general education classroom teaching, school social work, and family therapy. Zack has worked with the Lucy Brock Child Development Lab, Literacy First, Austin Independent School District, Murray City School District, Granite School District, the Utah School Social Workers Association, The Children’s Center Utah, and the University of Utah College of Social Work. He is passionate about teacher coaching and training, multilingual learning, and trauma-informed classroom management practices. 

ALYSSE LOOMIS, LCSW, PHD
Associate Professor, University of Utah College of Social Work 
Alysse's Bio

 

Alysse Loomis, PhD is a licensed clinical social worker and Associate Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating trauma-informed early childhood systems to promote well-being for young children who have experienced adversity and trauma. Alysse also teaches courses on trauma-informed interventions and human development and is co-Project Director of a federally funded infant mental-health training grant for social work and early-intervention graduate students. Alysse has also worked as a trauma-informed infant and early childhood mental health clinician, which informs her teaching and research. Dr. Loomis is on the board of the Utah Association of Infant Mental Health and the Editorial Board for the social work journal Families in Society.  

Camille Buttin

CAMILLE BUTTIN
Research Assistant, University of Utah 
Camille's Bio

 

Camille Buttin is a fifth year undergraduate student at the University of Utah studying psychology. She has experience working on a variety of early childhood-centric projects, including the NIH-funded Baby Affect and Behavior Study (BABY) and the Child and Family Study (CAFS), alongside others. Camille has completed two funded semesters of independent research and is currently in the process of writing an honors thesis manuscript. These projects focused on the interconnections between maternal mental health and behavior during parent-child interactions, along with their consequences for child socioemotional development. She is interested in the convergence of clinical and developmental psychology, and plans to eventually apply to clinical or developmental psychology PhD programs.  

 

Gamifying Trauma-Informed Preschool Teacher Training: Findings from a Pilot Study

Melissa AP

MELISSA AGUILAR PADILLA
MSW Student, University of Utah College of Social Work
Melissa's Bio

 

Melissa Aguilar Padilla is a bilingual Latina expected to graduate from the University of Utah’s Master of Social Work program in May 2027. While in the program, she has participated in an interdisciplinary fellowship in infant mental health focused on early childhood development, prevention, and culturally responsive care. Melissa currently provides trauma-informed therapy in Spanish to adolescents and adults impacted by violent crime and has co-facilitated Seeking Safety groups for women affected by domestic violence. She has also conducted community outreach and developed psychoeducational workshops, including suicide prevention training. Melissa has experience in research and interprofessional education, supporting trauma-informed training for preschool teachers and large-scale healthcare simulations. She has previous experience working with youth in crisis settings at Christmas Box House and is committed to supporting underserved communities. 

Max Oliver

MAX OLIVER, MSW, CSW
Research Associate, University of Utah College of Social Work 
Max's Bio

 

Max Olivier is expected to graduate from the University of Utah’s Master of Social Work program in May 2026. While at the university, they received a federally funded fellowship for school-based mental health practice with Spanish-speaking populations, including an internship at a middle school. They currently provide therapy services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Max has also developed educational materials for parents to promote adolescents’ safe use of technology. They have previous work experience in the juvenile justice system, providing care to youth in DCFS custody, housing case management, and administration of graduate medical education. 

 

Alysse Loomis

ALYSSE LOOMIS, LCSW, PHD
Associate Professor, University of Utah College of Social Work 
Alysse's Bio

 

Alysse Loomis, PhD is a licensed clinical social worker and Associate Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating trauma-informed early childhood systems to promote well-being for young children who have experienced adversity and trauma. Alysse also teaches courses on trauma-informed interventions and human development and is co-Project Director of a federally funded infant mental-health training grant for social work and early-intervention graduate students. Alysse has also worked as a trauma-informed infant and early childhood mental health clinician, which informs her teaching and research. Dr. Loomis is on the board of the Utah Association of Infant Mental Health and the Editorial Board for the social work journal Families in Society.  

 

Student Poster to Advocate for Early Childhood Mental Health

Zoie Evans

ZOIE EVANS
Preservice Early Childhood Educator

Janae Giles

JANAE GILES
Preservice Early Childhood Educator 

EMMA HANDY
Preservice Early Childhood Educator

KAIYA HOKI
Preservice Early Childhood Educator 

 

 

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