CT-AIMH 2023 SPRING CONFERENCE

In-Person

Friday, May 12, 2023

                                       * 8:30am-12:30pm *                                         (Breakfast and Registration from 8:30am-9:00am)

at

Woodwinds in Branford, CT

Topic:

From Survival to Security:  Addressing the Impact of the Pandemic on Pregnant, Birthing and Postpartum Families in Connecticut

Description:

This conference will broker current data on pandemic-related stressors and their impact on both caregivers and Infant Mental Health (IMH) providers. Conference presenters will present theoretical models of the transition to parenthood and the impacts of the pandemic on these psychological tasks, define Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders and clinical implications of the pandemic.  Conference presenters will facilitate discussion on pandemic-related topics and provide guidance, strategies and resources that IMH providers can use to address pandemic-related stressors. Participants will reflect on how they were impacted by the pandemic, what they noticed in the families that they have been working with and/or the IMH staff that they have been supervising, and they will develop an action plan to implement into their practice. Widespread traumatic events (e.g.,. COVID-19, war, violence) can simultaneously disturb a vast number of relationships and people’s mental health, which can challenge providers' knowledge and ability to respond in ways that promote the overall health, development, and social emotional wellbeing of perinatal caregivers and their early childhood families.   

Presenters: 

 Massiel Abramson, LMFT, MS

Massiel Abramson is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the field for 14 years. She is owner of Massiel Abramson Therapy and Consulting, providing counseling, consultation, and publications on mental health. Massiel has a specialty in relationships, self-awareness, and cultural sensitivity. She has worked in different capacities, including management, training, and direct care. Massiel specializes in child-parent psychotherapy, maternal health and homevisiting. Massiel uses her experience to guide people to build a thriving life, career and community through cultural awareness and trauma-based work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bridgewater State University and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Rhode Island.

         Jennifer Vendetti, LMSW, CEIM, PMH-C      

Jennifer is a maternal child health social worker specializing in the transition to parenthood, perinatal and infant mental health and early childhood parenting. She is a parent educator at UConn Health Parenting facilitating groups for parents and grandparents such as Circle of Security Parenting and Infant Massage. Jennifer is a referral coordinator and therapist trainer for the Mind over Mood initiative which links mothers in CT Office of Early Childhood funded home visiting programs statewide with perinatal mental health treatment. Jennifer is co-founder of the Connecticut Chapter of Postpartum Support International (PSI CT). She currently serves as Chair on the PSI CT Board of Directors. She is also on the board of directors of the Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health and Co-Chairs the CT-AIMH Promotion & Education Advisory Committee. Jennifer is a volunteer PSI Coordinator; accepting texts, calls and emails from perinatal help seekers across the state. Jennifer has coordinated the two signature PSI Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder trainings in Connecticut in 2015 and 2018 and has been Involved in numerous community organizing, coalition building and professional developmental activities related to the development of a perinatal mental health infrastructure in our state. She co-authored a Child Health and Development IMPACT brief on addressing PMADs in the pediatric setting. Jennifer had the great honor to co-present with Dr. Joy Osofsky in 2021 for Safe Baby Court Teams. She is the wife of a dedicated 6th grade teacher and mother of two teens, Kai and Claire. Despite significant allergies and asthma, she became a dog mom to Luna during the pandemic!

Important Information for Registering: