Promoting First Relationships: Nurturing Parents to Nurture Their Children

Sunday, April 13. 12:00pm-1:30pm. Olympic Room.

Description 

Promoting First Relationships (PFR) is an attachment theory-based, preventive intervention program to support service providers in promoting infants’ and toddlers’ trust and security in the caregiver-child relationship, and the healthy formation of identity. PFR staff train service providers in the use of practical, effective strategies for promoting secure and healthy relationships between caregivers (parents and center-based providers) and young children (birth to 5 years). In this workshop, you will learn about ways to promote trust and security in infancy (secure attachment) and healthy development of self during toddlerhood (healthy individuation) by reviewing PFR curriculum material and videotaped caregiver-child interactions.

Presenter Bio 

Jean F. Kelly, PhD, School of Nursing, University of Washington

Dr. Jean Kelly, PhD is a professor in the Department of Family and Child Nursing at the University of Washington, Co-Director of the Center for Infant Mental Health and Development, and Director of the Promoting First Relationships Program. Dr. Kelly is also the Director of NCAST-AVENUW, an organization that develops and disseminates research-based practice originating from the Department of Family and Child Nursing and the Center on Human Development and Disability. Dr. Kelly is an affiliate of the Center for Human Development and Disability, as well as the Chair of the Early Intervention Task Force. She is a Co-Principal Investigator of the NIMH Study of Promoting Infant Mental Health in Foster Care and director of Promoting First Relationships training programs statewide. Dr. Kelly is on the governing board of the Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network and is past Chair of the Governor-appointed Advisory Council to the Washington State Infant-Toddler Early Intervention Program. Dr. Kelly has directed research and training programs focused on young children's social and emotional health for over two decades, and has published numerous articles and chapters on promoting children's social and emotional development.