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  • 12 Mar 2021 by Christine Hughes

    A Moment to Remember & Reflect

    This week, many of us are marking the one year anniversary of when Florida shut down...our communities were ordered to shelter in place due to the uncontrolled pandemic, and our work moved to virtual operations.


    Anniversaries invite us to remember, and in a year like this, that is a heavy reality. As we reflect upon this anniversary and the experiences of the past year, you may feel renewed grief, overwhelm, or exhaustion. If you are feeling this way, know you are not alone. Know that this is expected. We are all mourning the collective trauma of this year. And we are still experiencing it. We still have loved ones getting sick and too many people dying. We still live with distance from loved ones, isolation, and the complex stresses of our circumstances.

    Many of our leaders and members (many of you!) have been on the front lines of the crises this year. Whatever our role, however we serve our communities throughout Florida--we have, in a year of incredible loss, continued to nurture the bonds of care and love, community and hope. While it is important to remember the sorrows, it is just as important to recognize and celebrate the ways we have shown up for each other, for our communities and for our values as an infant and early childhood mental health community.

    We learned more deeply what it means to center collective care and compassion in our services. We learned to more fully recognize our interdependence and prioritize the needs of those most vulnerable within and beyond our communities. We’ve helped people survive. We’ve cared for  Florida's children and their families. We’ve created reminders of beauty and kindness, and practiced gratitude to sustain us.

    So many of you, and your communities as a whole, have done so much to nurture life and care and hope in this time. May this have a lasting impact on our lives and work, reminding us always of what is most important.

     

    with care,

    Your FAIMH Family


    Join us on Friday March 19th

    At 12:00 PM EST, we will host a brief time where we can come together, remember those we have lost, honor each other, and allow ourselves to feel the weight of this moment in time--together, in community.

    We will have a time of silence honoring people in our lives we have lost over this year, we will practice a lovingkindness meditation to share wellbeing with ourselves, others, and the world, we will share words upon which to reflect, and we will celebrate our resilience.

    Register here. All are welcome, please share.

  • 10 Mar 2021 by Christine Hughes

    From our colleagues at Zero to Three:

    Today, Congress passed President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID recovery package which includes critical supports to help families struggling with the impact of the pandemic. After a year of advocating for policies that truly put families first, significant emergency supports for babies, families, and the child care system are finally on the way.

    Watch the statement of Dr. Myra Jones-Taylor, Chief Policy Officer, on the passage of the American Rescue Plan and explore ZERO TO THREE’s overview of how the plan addresses babies’ five critical needs.

    video statement from Myra Jones-Taylor, Chief Policy Offcer, ZERO TO THREE

    The American Rescue Plan represents a monumental step forward for babies and families - and your advocacy helped make it happen! Thank you for keeping the pressure on Congress to Think Babies and Act™ and pass this crucial emergency relief. Celebrate. . . and rest for what is next. There is still more work to do to make sure these investments are sustained and the policy advances are made permanent. Babies are counting on your continued action to ensure they have what they need to thrive now and in the future.  

    Share the good news with your colleagues and friends!