Learn & Engage

This idea- rich session presented by early literacy expert, consultant, and author, Stacy Benge moves beyond traditional approaches to literacy and changes the perspective from teaching to how you can foster development, because literacy begins with embracing the whole child, not introducing reading and writing at an early age. Explore the fundamental elements of literacy—language, visual perception, phonological awareness, and physical development—and discover how child-led play develops these skills. The session will also include a comparison between child-led play and adult-guided playful activities, highlighting how to distinguish between the two. You’ll learn how to create environments that promote child- led play and gain key talking points to connect all types of play to literacy development. Walk away with a commitment to embrace, implement, and advocate for child-led play!

The New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) and New York Center for Child Development (NYCDD), in partnership with the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, will offer a core training series of cohesive and sequenced foundational webinars on infant and early childhood mental health practice tailored to the developing professional and experienced individuals alike, working in various disciplines across systems. Each webinar will be offered live and also posted as an available training opportunity via the Learning Management System (LMS). 

This half-day masterclass equips healthcare professionals with practical, evidence-based skills for integrated pediatric care. Topics include family and school engagement, screening for ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and effective interventions within pediatric exam rooms. Ideal for pediatricians, family medicine providers, and behavioral health clinicians. 

These events focus on enhancing healthcare professionals' skills in managing pediatric and maternal mental health. They include webinars on setting limits with demanding patients, interpreting neuropsychological evaluations, discussing weight during the perinatal period, and intensive training on child and adolescent mental health.  

Join Bright Start Connect for this Free 4-part workshop series for professionals supporting young families.  

Dates: Wednesdays — May 7, 14, 21, and 28
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM EST

We’re currently pursuing CEU accreditation and will update participants as soon as it's available.

Please Note: Attendance and Participation is required in all 4 sessions.

This comprehensive 12-hour training is specifically designed for participants who are directly involved in the developmental and mental health evaluation and diagnosis of children birth to five years of age. This training provides history and background around the need for and development of a specialized diagnostic classification system for infancy and early childhood, as well as approaches to diagnosis from an Infant Mental Health perspective which is developmentally informed, relationship based, and contextual and culturally competent. Participants will learn about the multi-axial approach to diagnosis as well as understanding the contents of each axis including Axis I Clinical Disorders, Axis II Relational Context, Axis III Physical Health Conditions and Considerations, Axis IV Psychosocial Stressors, and Axis V Developmental Competence.
All trainings are virtual unless otherwise noted.

• April 1, 3, & 4, 2025
  • All days: 9 AM - 1 PM
• April 8-10, 2025
  • All days: 9 AM - 1 PM
• May 12-14, 2025
  • 5/12: 10 AM - 2 PM
  • 5/13-5/14: 9 AM - 1 PM