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The Annual Symposium is designed for Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health (I/ECMH) Consultants and/or supervisors of I/ECMH Consultants currently providing consultation to early care and education programs. We are excited to bring you a variety of engaging presenters and topics designed to strengthen early care and education consultative practices across the state, provide the necessary support to I/ECMH Consultants to ensure an adequate workforce is providing these services to programs, young children, and families. The Symposium will be held in-person on Tuesday, May 12th, and Wednesday, May 13th at the NIU Naperville Conference Center in Naperville, IL.
*These sessions are awarded the following IL EI credits only:
Tuesday May 12, 2026
• 8:30AM – 4:00PM: Understanding the Historical Roots of Discipline to Effectively Connect to the Hearts of Young Children-ATY, 1 TYP 2 INT, 2 WWF
Wednesday May 13, 2026
• 9:00AM – 12:00PM Are We Truly Affirming? Neurotypical Norms and Neurodiversity in IECMH Consultation-1.25 ATY, 1.25 WWF
• 9:00AM – 12:00PM Caring Without Collapsing: People-Pleasing Patterns in Relationship-Based Work & Reflective Practice-2.5 WWF
• 9:00AM – 10:15AM An I/ECMH Framework: Seven Foundational Practices for Building a Stronger Early Childhood Workforce from the ILAIMH-1.25 WWF
• 9:00AM – 10:15AM Supporting Neurodivergent and Medically Diverse Staff Through Reflective Consultation-1.25 WWF
• 9:00AM – 10:15AM “Consultation Just Isn’t Helping”: Managing Your Frustrations, Concerns, and Expectations within the Consultative Relationship-1.25 WWF
• 10:45AM – 12:00PM: High-Quality Inclusive Practices: Using the Inclusive Classroom Profile to Strengthen Consultation and Support I/ECMH Practice-0.75 WWF, 0.5 INT
• 10:45AM – 12:00PM: Holding the Work: Mental Health Consultants’ Racialized Experiences and the Supports That Sustain-1.25 WWF
• 10:45AM – 12:00PM: What If You Don’t Come Back? The Impact of Separation Fears and Trauma on Behavior & Development-1.5 WWF
• 1:00PM – 3:00PM: Closing Plenary - News You Can Use: Updates from the Field-2 WWF
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