About
Committed to young children & their families
At the Iowa Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health we are more than a team of professionals. We are a committed community dedicated to nurturing relationships and championing the social-emotional development of young children and their families. Our collective efforts are rooted in preventive and promotive efforts based on the belief that supportive caregivers are the key to building healthy futures. As a diverse and multi-disciplinary team from various fields we combine a broad range of skills, enabling us to effectively address the complexities of infant and early childhood mental health. We prioritize inclusivity and collaboration, recognizing their importance in promoting social-emotional growth and ensuring culturally sensitive advocacy.
Shaping the Future Together: Growth & Stability in Focus!
In the summer of 2024, the association hosted three dynamic collaborative sessions, bringing together community partners to envision and plan for a thriving future.
These sessions were designed to:
✅ Foster meaningful dialogue.
✅ Gather valuable input on growth and sustainability strategies.
✅ Lay the foundation for impactful implementation.
Want to see the insights and ideas that emerged? Click here to explore the session highlights!
Staff

Executive Director
The Executive Director of the board leads strategic initiatives and overseas operations to drive organizational success.

Carol Young, M.A., LMFT, LPC, IMH-E®
Reflective Consultant & Consultation Coordinator
As an Infant Mental Health Consultant with over 30 years of experience, Carol is passionate about increasing brave spaces for reflection. She is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist, endorsed as a Clinical Infant Mental Health Mentor. She has experience as a clinician, a home visitor, a consultant and a trainer in the field of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Carol provides individual and group reflective consultation for a wide variety of professionals; mentoring and training in the provision of reflective supervision/consultation; and training focused on relationship-based practice, sensitive conversations, and many other topics. She was a principal contributor in a 4-State complex project which developed “Reflective Supervision: A Guide from Region X to Enhance Reflective Practice Among Home Visiting Programs” which is utilized across the globe and in the development and implementation of training utilizing the NEAR@Home Toolkit (guides practitioners in sharing information about Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACEs, and Resilience). Carol’s work with Iowa began in 2017.

Kristi Armstrong, MSW, LMSW, IMH-E®
Endorsement Coordinator
With over two decades of experience in the field, Kristi Armstrong creates meaningful connections that establish a space of trust and open, honest reflection. Holding a license as a Master Social Worker and endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical, Kristi's extensive background encompasses roles as a clinician, consultant, and trainer in the realm of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Notably, she previously served as the Director of Endorsement and Reflective Practice at the Washington Association for Infant Mental Health. Prior Kristi led a multifaceted initiative involving multiple representatives from four states, culminating in the creation of "Reflective Supervision: A Guide from Region X to Enhance Reflective Practice Among Home Visiting Programs," a globally utilized resource. Presently, she facilitates both individual and group reflective supervision/consultation sessions, conducts a multitude of diverse infant mental health trainings, collaborates with state partners to bring reflective practice services to a variety of professionals, and she provides endorsement coordination for the state of Iowa. Utilizing reflection as a tool for learning, Kristi actively evaluates her own biases, educates herself on diverse perspectives, and engages in meaningful conversations. This ongoing process allows her to adapt and evolve in her anti-bias efforts, contributing to a more inclusive environment. Outside of her professional endeavors, she finds joy in quality time with her family and friends.
Board Members

Gladys Noll Alvarez MSW, LISW, IECMH-E ®
Gladys Noll Alvarez MSW, LISW, IECMH-E ® is the Trauma Informed Care Project Coordinator at Orchard Place/ Child Guidance Center. She has worked with children and families since 1976 when she was a counselor with the Upward Bound program at Coe College. She earned her BA at Luther College in Social Work and Psychology, her Masters in Social Work at the University of Iowa and has been engaged in 2 separate year-long learning collaborative cohorts through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. She is trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and is rostered nationally in Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). In June 2018 she received the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health Endorsement as an Infant Mental Health Mentor – Clinical. In May 2022, she received her Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement –as an Early Childhood Family Specialist. She has provided clinical therapeutic services for children and families who have experienced trauma for over 39 years. In her role as the TIC Project Coordinator, she coordinates the networking of the TIC Project Stakeholders group and provides training on trauma informed care throughout the state and nationally. Gladys coordinates the annual Psychological Trauma & Juvenile Justice conference, bringing national speakers on trauma to educate professionals and promote systemic change. Additionally, she co-authored 2 children’s books on trauma: Grandma Mary Says Things Happen: A guide to help children who have experienced trauma and Grandma Mary Says Bullies Hurt.

Alyssa Caldbeck, MSW, LISW, RPT-S, IMH-E®
Alyssa is a social work educator and serves as the MSW Field Education Director at Grand View University. Her qualifications include licensure as a LIcensed Independent Social Worker, designation as an EMDR Approved Consultant, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and endorsement as an Infant Mental Health Specialist. Alyssa has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Iowa She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Education at Drake University. Her professional background is in mental health with other experiences in juvenile justice, child welfare, and community support initiatives. Alyssa leverages her knowledge and experience to advocate for young children and families. She has earned a certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consulting from Georgetown University. Alyssa is trained in the Erikson Institute’s Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) and the Neurosequential Model of Reflective Supervision (NMRS). Additionally, Alyssa is a train the trainer for Zero to Three’s Growing Brain. Beyond her work in early childhood, she offers training and consultation services to therapists, organizations, and businesses, with the goal of enhancing their understanding of overall well-being.

Billie Jo Claussen, M.S., IMH-E®
Billie Jo is proud to call herself a babyologist. She has spent the better part of her adult life studying babies and their loved ones so that all can support each other in the best way possible ~with love and affection, healing their ouchies and living their best lives. Billie Jo is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist. She holds a Master’s Degree in Infant Toddler Mental Health & Early Childhood Special Education from (Portland State University. Currently Billie Jo works for Northwest AEA as a home visitor. Buck (lab) is her sidekick and they can be found on Black Hawk Lake in northwest Iowa. Billie Jo is passionate about healthy attachment & how healthy relationships play a role in providing the best possible start for babies & toddler

Elizabeth Kehret, M.A., IBCLC, IMH-E®
Elizabeth has worked with Lutheran Services in Iowa since 2010 in several roles and most recently as a Service Coordinator for the North Central Iowa Early Childhood Home Visiting program. She also supports mothers during the perinatal period as an IBCLC, Childbirth Educator, and Doula. Elizabeth has a Master’s in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development from UNI and a Graduate certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health from ISU (but she is a Hawkeye at heart, where she did her undergrad). She lives in Parkersburg with her husband and children on a 5th generation farm that she grew up on. Elizabeth has a passion for advocacy. One of her most memorable moments was in 2019 when she was able to represent Iowa at Strolling Thunder with Zero to Three in Washington D.C. Elizabeth and her family met with Iowa’s Legislators to advocate for families with young children and their needs.

Dawn Lero-M.A., CFCS-HDFS, IMH-E®
Dawn is an Early Childhood Specialist for Southeast Iowa's Early Childhood Project with a catchment area of 10 Southeastern Iowa counties. She provides Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health coaching and consulting. Dawn provides coaching and consultation for childcare programs, family childcares, and home visitors. Dawn and her family relocated from Virginia in April 2022. She worked in Virginia as an Early Intervention Provider for seven years. Her last role in Virginia was as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant for a pilot program. Dawn has a Bachelor’s Degree in Family Ministry from Concordia University Texas and a Master's in Human Forensic Mental Health from Concordia University St. Paul in 2015. She is currently completing her Ph.D. at Iowa State University. Dawn holds an Infant Mental Health Family Specialist Endorsement. She is also certified by the American Association for Family and Consumer Science as a Certified Family and Consumer Science Human Development and Family Studies 2017. Dawn is a trainer for Zero to Three's the Growing Brain and provides training, coaching, and consulting for the EC-PBIS Pyramid Model. Dawn is also a licensed PLAY Project consultant. Dawn lives in Des Moines County with her family. She enjoys planning road trips, crocheting, and reading in her free time

Melanie Reese, Ed.S., MSW, LISW
As a Senior Technical Assistance Specialist at Anlar, Melanie is passionate about building systems to support inclusive opportunities for young children with disabilities. She is a skilled facilitator, trainer, and technical assistance provider. She has expertise in early childhood special education, state early childhood systems, and social-emotional learning. Prior to joining Anlar, Melanie spent 3 years at the Iowa Department of Education, where she led the state's Pyramid Model work, co-led the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development for special education in birth-five, and worked as the 619 Part B coordinator. She also worked at a regional service agency in Iowa providing technical assistance to local school districts and child care programs in early childhood and early childhood special education for 14 years. Melanie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Northern Iowa, a Master’s Degree in Social Work from St. Ambrose University, and an Education Specialist Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Kent State University. Her background and expertise in mental health and special education assist her in collaboration and coordination of services for children with disabilities and their families.

Denise Stader, M.A., LMHC, CADC, IMH-E®
Denise Stadter is the Clinical Director of Behavioral Health Services at Children & Families of Iowa (CFI). She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC). Denise graduated from Augustana College iBachelor’s degree in Pychology and Sociology with an emphasis in Social Welfare. She attended Olivet Nazarene University and graduated with her Master’s Degree in Professional and School Counseling. Following graduation, Denise began working at CFI later that year as a full-time outpatient therapist working with clients zero through the lifespan that have experienced trauma. Denise has experience working with children, adolescents, and families both on the outpatient and residential level. Denise has direct oversight and supervision of the behavioral health teams and substance abuse programming at Children & Families of Iowa. Denise has received extensive specialized training in domestic violence, addiction, trauma, attachment, and infant/early childhood mental health. As a therapist, Denise utilizes evidenced based practices to support her clients and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is nationally rostered as a Child Parent Psychotherapy clinician and supervisor. Denise is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist(IMH-E®) in the state of Iowa and serves as the president of the board of the Iowa Association for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health.

Megan Caves, PsyD
Megan Caves has been involved with the Iowa Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health since 2014. She has served on the board in various roles and is currently the Past President. Megan has extensive experience working with infants, young children, and their families in multiple capacities. She has worked as a childcare provider, a mental health consultant for Early Head Start and Head Start programs, a reflective consultation provider, and is currently a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Health Service Provider at Birchwood Wellness.
Want to learn more?
Our goal is to enhance the quality and capacity of Iowa’s early childhood professionals to meet the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of young children and their families. Contact us to learn more about us, our services or how you can get involved.