Infants impacted by prenatal substance exposure, foster care, and child welfare involvement often face significant challenges during their earliest years. In this episode of Meaningful Moments, Lisa Terry sits down with Amanda Howard to discuss the impact of trauma and attachment disruptions on infant development and the critical role early intervention professionals play in supporting children and families. Through research, real-life experiences, and practical strategies, this conversation highlights how relationship-based, trauma-informed practices can foster resilience and promote healing for both children and caregivers.



Resources:

Checklist of Early Childhood Practices that Support Social Emotional Development and Trauma-Informed Care [https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/trauma_checklist.pdf]
This reflective checklist supports early interventionists in applying trauma-informed practices that promote social-emotional development. It emphasizes safety, regulation, caregiver partnership, and understanding behavior through a trauma- and development-informed lens. https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/trauma_checklist.pdf

Action Plan: Strengthening Trauma-Informed Practice in Early Intervention [https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/trauma_action_plan.pdf]
This companion action plan helps early interventionists translate reflection into intentional action. Designed to be used alongside the trauma-informed checklist, it supports goal-setting, collaboration, and ongoing reflection to strengthen everyday practice.  https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/trauma_action_plan.pdf

Visit the Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center for FREE resources, training, and handouts. https://veipd.org/main/index.html [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJ3QkdOWnJTbnlDckt1VE9nNFFDczRnVDZId3xBQ3Jtc0trd3VrdUM0a3NLSk1TazRfWl9IdWlpdU85ZGhIMmxnc19vTm1fX3dJalVKXzlSRWFWQnBFQmg3T1ZPNUNreTZJZTJ1X25icGV2VzVCYVhoaVpXT1hMM2pub3dmV0lGQmd6ZUtTWTlUenBpdWIydHNobw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fveipd.org%2Fmain%2Findex.html&v=jxXIdYDPADs]  

Virginia Association of Infant Mental Health: https://www.vaimh.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNDOXVnT2t6UTZVb2JZSTRsZjBsajRic3BQUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbXZFeWN4Y05oM2U3d3RBdHhmY21xT2t0RUlNWC1Dc3BuSHdRclRJOHhsSmVPZFlXb1BySTBQR0N4TUFVcHh3Wm9XSUU1cjZIR1o5dVdLdW9TbUJISlJ3UDctYjNEcUgwVkNxRnFpQVRPYzJ0akZvdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaimh.org%2F&v=jxXIdYDPADs] 

From Trauma to Trust: Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Substance Exposure, Foster Care, and Attachment Disruptions 

What does it truly mean to be trauma-informed in early intervention? In this episode, Lisa Terry is joined by Christine Inscoe to explore how a shift in the mindset—not adding more to our workload—can transform our approach to support children and families. Together, they unpack the impact of early experiences, recognize stress responses, and share practical, relationship-based strategies that help families feel safe, seen, and supported. Whether you are new to trauma-informed care or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation offers real-world examples and actionable insights you can use right away.

Resources:

VEIPD site: https://veipd.vcu.edu/

Trauma-Informed Care Checklist and Action Plan
Checklist of Early Childhood Practices that Support Social Emotional Development and Trauma-Informed Care [https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/trauma_checklist.pdf]

This reflective checklist supports early interventionists in applying trauma-informed practices that promote social-emotional development. It emphasizes safety, regulation, caregiver partnership, and understanding behavior through a trauma- and development-informed lens.

Action Plan: Strengthening Trauma-Informed Practice in Early Intervention [https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/trauma_action_plan.pdf]

This companion action plan helps early interventionists translate reflection into intentional action. Designed to be used alongside the trauma-informed checklist, it supports goal-setting, collaboration, and ongoing reflection to strengthen everyday practice.

Strengthening Trauma-Informed Practices in Early Intervention

informed clinical opinion

episode 3

In this episode of Meaningful Moments, Lisa Terry is joined by Melissa Peacey (Norfolk) and Jessica Hale (Virginia Beach) to discuss how social–emotional development is being integrated across early intervention. They share insights on workforce training, common challenges, and how every discipline supports infant mental health.

Tune in for practical takeaways and a powerful reminder: Social–emotional development isn’t separate—it’s at the heart of everything we do.

Resources:

Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center (VEIPD) - https://veipd.vcu.edu/

VEIPD Learning Bytes – Brief learning activities already developed for trainers https://veipd.vcu.edu/professional-development/learning-bytes/

What We Bring Workbook - https://www.challengingbehavior.org/document/what-we-bring-workbook/

Advancing Social–Emotional Practices Across the Early Intervention Workforce

Special Guests Corey H. Cassidy, PhD, CCC-SLP & Patricia Eitemiller, M.Ed., QMRP

Compassion fatigue affects how we show up at work, at home, and in our relationships. In this episode, we explore what compassion fatigue is, how it differs from burnout, and how strengthening our emotional intelligence helps us care with intention. Through reflection and practical strategies, we discuss boundaries, capacity, and agency, empowering us to protect our empathy, make intentional choices, and stay connected without losing ourselves in the process.

Find strategies that work for you. Consider the following:

 1. Practice self-awareness and reflection (e.g., journaling to express gratitude and acknowledge accomplishments).
 2. Build healthy coping strategies (e.g., physical activity, creative outlets, deep-breathing exercises, or spending time outdoors).
 3. Cultivate a support network—friends, family, peers, and colleagues—and connect with intention.
 4. Reframe negative thoughts and celebrate small wins, sharing  progress and successes with others.

Resources:

Brené Brown book – Atlas of the Heart

Feelings Wheel - https://www.gottman.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Gottman-Institute_The-Feeling-Wheel.pdf

Everyday Leadership: Redefining Leadership in Lollipop Moments Blog - https://www.veipd.org/earlyintervention/2019/01/08/everyday-leadership-redefining-leadership-in-lollipop-moments/

Meredith, G.R., Rakow, D.A., Eldermire, E.R.B., Madsen, C.G., Shelley, S.P., & Sachs, N.A. (2020). Minimum Time Dose in Nature to Positively Impact the Mental Health of College-Aged Students, and How to Measure It: A Scoping Review. Front. Psychol. 10:2942. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02942

Caring with Intention: Navigating Compassion Fatigue through Emotional Intelligence

In this episode, we explore how the Pyramid Model framework supports social-emotional development in early intervention. Our guests, Naomi Grinney and Cori Hill, share practical ways to apply the tiers of the Pyramid Model with infants and toddlers, examples of writing meaningful social-emotional outcomes, and tips for partnering with families to promote positive relationships and emotional growth from the start.

Resources:

Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center: https://veipd.vcu.edu/

Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia: https://itcva.online/pyramid-model-framework/

National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations: https://challengingbehavior.org/resources/

Outcome Examples:

Outcome that focus on relationships: “Jin will call for his mom when he wakes up at night using her name consistently each time every night for one week.”

Outcome around emotional regulation: “Bertie will use calming strategies modeled by her foster mom when she is waiting for food to be placed on her tray (e.g. blowing bubbles) twice per day for one week.”

Outcome supporting social interactions: “Aiden will give his dad a high five when he comes home from work 5x a week over 2 weeks.”

Family outcome: "Asako will identify 5+ strategies that she can use to redirect Jin when he is climbing to give him an opportunity to expend his energy inside and outside the house 10+ times a week for two weeks."

From Tiers to Outcomes: Putting the Pyramid Model Framework into Practice in Early Intervention

Join this special cross-collaboration between Meaningful Moments: Connecting Infant Mental Health to Early Intervention and The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. Hosts Lisa Terry and Erin Croyle blend professional expertise and lived experience to have an honest, compassionate conversation about infant mental health, the power of relationships, and supporting the social-emotional well-being of all families. Together, Lisa and Erin explore how meaningful connections—between caregivers, children, and communities—can empower families and help children thrive.

Resources:

Meaningful Moments Podcast: https://www.veipd.org/main/meaningful_moments.html

The Odyssey Podcast: https://centerforfamilyinvolvementblog.org/

CFI: https://cfi.partnership.vcu.edu/

VEIPD: https://www.veipd.org/main/index.html

Supporting Families In Early Intervention [https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/supporting-families-in-ei.pdf]: https://veipd.vcu.edu/media/veipd/pdfsarchives/supporting-families-in-ei.pdf

Meaningful Moments Meets the Odyssey

A guide to fostering peace and harmony during the holiday season for families and practitioners, emphasizing strategies to build hope and balance. This includes practical tips on managing stress, setting realistic expectations, nurturing self-care, fostering gratitude, and promoting inclusivity. The resource aims to support both personal well-being and professional practices during this busy time, encouraging meaningful connections and resilience.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJ3QkdOWnJTbnlDckt1VE9nNFFDczRnVDZId3xBQ3Jtc0trd3VrdUM0a3NLSk1TazRfWl9IdWlpdU85ZGhIMmxnc19vTm1fX3dJalVKXzlSRWFWQnBFQmg3T1ZPNUNreTZJZTJ1X25icGV2VzVCYVhoaVpXT1hMM2pub3dmV0lGQmd6ZUtTWTlUenBpdWIydHNobw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fveipd.org%2Fmain%2Findex.html&v=jxXIdYDPADs] or https://www.vaimh.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNDOXVnT2t6UTZVb2JZSTRsZjBsajRic3BQUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbXZFeWN4Y05oM2U3d3RBdHhmY21xT2t0RUlNWC1Dc3BuSHdRclRJOHhsSmVPZFlXb1BySTBQR0N4TUFVcHh3Wm9XSUU1cjZIR1o5dVdLdW9TbUJISlJ3UDctYjNEcUgwVkNxRnFpQVRPYzJ0akZvdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaimh.org%2F&v=jxXIdYDPADs] for more information.

This podcast is a collaborative effort from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (through a contract with the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University).

Embracing Calm and Joy: Strategies for Families and Practitioners During the Holidays

Join us as we delve into the world of autism, exploring its definition, statistics, and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT). Discover how the M-CHAT is used for early detection of autism in toddlers, its importance, and tips for effective implementation.

Listen now and embark on this journey to increase awareness, foster acceptance, and promote early intervention for individuals with autism.

Visit https://veipd.org/main/index.html [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVJ3QkdOWnJTbnlDckt1VE9nNFFDczRnVDZId3xBQ3Jtc0trd3VrdUM0a3NLSk1TazRfWl9IdWlpdU85ZGhIMmxnc19vTm1fX3dJalVKXzlSRWFWQnBFQmg3T1ZPNUNreTZJZTJ1X25icGV2VzVCYVhoaVpXT1hMM2pub3dmV0lGQmd6ZUtTWTlUenBpdWIydHNobw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fveipd.org%2Fmain%2Findex.html&v=jxXIdYDPADs] or https://www.vaimh.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDNDOXVnT2t6UTZVb2JZSTRsZjBsajRic3BQUXxBQ3Jtc0tsbXZFeWN4Y05oM2U3d3RBdHhmY21xT2t0RUlNWC1Dc3BuSHdRclRJOHhsSmVPZFlXb1BySTBQR0N4TUFVcHh3Wm9XSUU1cjZIR1o5dVdLdW9TbUJISlJ3UDctYjNEcUgwVkNxRnFpQVRPYzJ0akZvdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaimh.org%2F&v=jxXIdYDPADs] for more information.

Resources:

Autism Speaks: https://www.autismspeaks.org [https://www.autismspeaks.org/]

Talks on Tuesday Webinar, VEIPD: Unseen, but In Need: Identifying Girls with ASD in EI: https://www.veipd.org/main/sub_2023_talks_tuesdays.html

Book: The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

Poem: A Trip to Holland: https://blogs.illinois.edu/files/8619/809619/174675.pdf

Autism Screening: Implementing the M-Chat with Stephanie Shrewsberry

Early interventionists (EIs) play a critical role nurturing the relationship between the caregiver and child to enhance all children’s social and emotional development to promote successful future outcomes. This podcast focuses on infant mental health topics that support the emotional well-being of all families. Join us to listen and reflect to promote meaningful moments for all families in early intervention.

Visit www.veipd.org for more information. You can watch the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCQjRma-0n1ZsNicCeyIweSLJEMGptA_6

This podcast is a collaborative effort from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (through a contract with the Partnership for People with Disabilities/VCU).

Lisa Terry

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