Infant mental health, also called “early childhood mental health,” refers to the mental health of young children from birth to age five. Very young children need guidance to learn how to express and manage their emotions in healthy ways. Parents and caregiver relationships play an important role in the mental health of infants and young children. Attachment relationships form in infancy and early childhood, and are molded through appropriate interactions with adults.

Dr. Harleen Hutchinson is an Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor Specialist, President of The Florida Association of Infant Mental Health, and Executive Director of The Journey Institute where she works with families of children birth through eighteen. Dr. Hutchinson is an adjunct professor with the Barry University School of Social Work. She conducts training locally, state-wide, and nationally on topics related to culturally sensitive practices, trauma and attachment in early childhood, and its implications on the parent-child relationships. Dr. Hutchinson is the 2020 recipient of the Florida Association of Infant Mental Health, "Answering The Call" award.

Family Network on Disabilities (FND) has been supporting families and youth (age 26 and younger) with disabilities since 1985. We provide information, resources, support and trainings to families, caregivers, youth, providers, and school districts across the state of Florida. Our website has thousands of resources focused on special education, navigating the Medical and Mental Healthcare Systems for your child, and wellness tools. All our services are provided free of charge, in part from the grant funding we receive from the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the Health Resources Services Administration. The Family S.T.A.R. (Support, Training, Assistance, and Resources) program is the Family to Family Health Information Center (F2FHIC) of Florida managed by FND.

Email: lisam@fndfl.org
Website: www.fndusa.org
Phone: (800) 825-5736