Training Academy: Newborn TOUCH
Event Details
presents... Newborn TOUCH
Newborn T.O.U.C.H. (Touch, Observe, Understand, Communicate, and Hold) emphasizes the importance of physical, social, and emotional environments in shaping healthy fetal and infant development. This relationship-focused approach offers families and caregivers knowledge, skills, and practices to nurture the growth and resilience of both infants and adults.
What You’ll Gain:
This course equips participants with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to create a nurturing environment where newborns and their families thrive. Benefits include:
- Knowledge to support families during the transition from pregnancy to parenthood.
- Skills to help families and caregivers understand their newborn’s needs and behavior.
- Care Practices to reduce crying, improve sleep, and enhance family well-being.
Key Concepts:
-
Pregnancy and Early Parenthood
Gain knowledge of:- The importance of appropriate care during pregnancy.
- Fetal development during each trimester.
- Childbirth and the transition to parenthood.
- Newborn care in day-to-day interactions with the infant, family, and caregivers.
-
Infant Development & Behavior
Enhance skills and knowledge to:- Understand the conditions that optimize early brain development.
- Identify developmental stages and behaviors in newborns.
- Apply caregiving practices to support parenting/caregiving capabilities and attachment relationships.
-
Infant/Young Child/Family-Centered Practice
Develop observation skills to:- Identify infant capacities, strengths, and cues.
- Recognize the role of families and caregivers in fostering development.
-
Relationship-Focused Practice
Build caregiving skills to:- Help parents and caregivers “see” the infant as a person.
- Use serve-and-return play to promote bonding.
- Comfort and hold infants using evidence-based care practices.
- Reduce crying and improve sleep patterns.
Chris Lester discovered the IMH community through her role as a Developmental Educator in the NICU and Maternal/Newborn Services of Baptist Health System in Northeast Florida. She created training programs for prenatal and newborn development, received multiple funding awards, awards for leadership from FAIMH and Excellence in Program Design from the University of North Florida and has trained hundreds of professionals state-wide. Chris served as Chair of a multi-year interagency study on issues facing the 0-3 community and received the United Way's Award for Advocacy. She serves as a consultant and trainer in the child welfare and early learning sectors and currently serves as Co-Chair of the North Florida Chapter of FAIMH.
April 10th, 2025
12:30 PM-4:30 PM Eastern/ 11:30-3:30 PM Central/ 10:30 AM-2:30 PM Mountain/ 9:30-1:30 PM Pacific
Open to all FAIMH Members throughout Florida who work with infants, young children and their families, especially early learning providers, Head Start/Early Head Start providers, education specialists & family support staff, early childhood program administrators, early intervention specialists, inclusion specialists, Early Steps providers and mental health specialists.
Endorsement:
This training may meet IMH Competencies that support your preparation to earn the Florida Infant Mental Health Endorsement.
Registration:
Training Experience Agency + Training members Rate: Free Slots Available to register email Training Coordinator Jamie Dolan at training@faimh.org
FAIMH Member Rate: $90
Non-Member Rate: $125
Late Registration Rate (Starts March 24th to April 4th): $150
Add on Ticket:
CEUs for Social Work, Marriage & Family, Mental Health (4 hours): $15
Location
This training will be held online via Zoom.
Zoom link info will be sent to paid registrants the day before the training series begins.
Certificates & Continuing Education Units
Certificate: Upon successful completion of the 4-hour training series, a certificate of completion will be earned to all those who signed in and fully attended both sessions.
CEUs:
Continuing education (4 hours) for licensed clinical social workers, marriage & family therapists, and mental health counselors will be offered by the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health, an approved provider for continuing education by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling (CE Provider #50-30846).
Technology Requirements:
To ensure the best possible experience for all participants, the program relies on online video conferencing, which has minimum requirements to work properly. You will need a desktop or laptop computer with speakers, microphone, and webcam, and a high-speed internet connection. Laptops work best because they come with all the necessary equipment and can easily be moved from room to room in your home or office to find a quiet place.
- Review the system requirements for the Zoom online meeting platform
- Try out a test meeting
- Test your audio and video in the meeting
View our Training Academy Policy on attendance, payment, cancellation and more.
Questions? Email us.
