Applications Open for Southwest Human Development’s
Harris Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Training Cohort
Now Accepting Applications for the 2025 Cohort
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When stories of young children struggling with emotional and behavioral challenges make headlines, one question often arises—how do we ensure that families have the support they need in the earliest years of a child’s life? With the growing awareness of childhood anxiety and the impact of stress on developing minds, infant and early childhood mental health has never been more relevant. Research shows that significant developmental milestones, including emotional regulation, language acquisition, and the formation of secure attachment relationships, happen during the early years of childhood development.
Southwest Human Development’s Harris Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Training Institute is tackling this issue head-on, providing comprehensive, expert-led training for professionals who work with infants, toddlers, and their families. This 1-year and 2-year cohort-based program is designed for those looking to deepen their knowledge of early childhood mental health and make a lasting impact in their field and community. Upon graduation, students receive a certificate in either Infant and Family Studies or Infant and Family Clinical Practice. Year one runs from August to May, followed by year two, which extends from August to May of the following year.
The program is led by Dr. Alison Steier, a nationally recognized expert in infant and early childhood mental health and the Vice President of Mental Health Services at Southwest Human Development. With decades of experience, Dr. Steier has helped shape national conversations around early intervention, attachment, and trauma-informed care, making this program a must-attend for professionals seeking the best training available in Arizona. Participants will also get a chance to connect with guest speakers who are internationally recognized infant mental health specialists and authors.
This intensive learning experience provides professionals with specialized training in understanding emotional and social development in infants and toddlers. These skills support families and professionals through trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices. The program training focuses reflective supervision to help professionals process their work and apply insights in real time with a network of peers and mentors to strengthen learning and collaboration across disciplines.
This program is designed for professionals who work directly with infants, toddlers, and families, including, clinical mental health specialist, early childhood educators, healthcare providers, family support specialists, as well as other mental health and child development professionals.
“Harris Institute graduates are shaping the future of infant mental health in Arizona,” says Denise Lopez, Training Specialist at Southwest Human Development. “This training empowers professionals to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families, ensuring they get the best possible start.”
The upcoming Harris Institute cohort graduation on May 16, 2025 will celebrate a new group of dedicated professionals who have completed this intensive 1 and 2-year training program.
The graduation ceremony is an opportunity to showcase the growing movement to prioritize mental health in the earliest years, highlighting the impact these professionals will have on families, communities, and the future of early childhood development.
Applications are now open for the 2025 cohort that begins on August 14! Space is limited, so early application is encouraged.
Learn more and apply today: swhd.org/harris
About Southwest Human Development
Southwest Human Development is Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development. Recognizing a child’s earliest experiences and relationships establish the foundation for all future development, Southwest Human Development’s more than 40 comprehensive programs focus on young children—ages birth to 5—and their families in the areas of child development, mental health, Easterseals disabilities services, Head Start, early literacy, family support and child welfare, and professional development and training. Founded in 1981, Southwest Human Development serves 140,000 children and families each year. Learn more at www.swhd.org.
