Creating a Culture of Wellness and Resilience in Early Childhood Settings: Let’s Get Started!

About the Presenters

Debi Mahler, LCSW, Director of Professional Development, has worked for the Devereux Center for Resilient Children for 23 years. Debi received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and received a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University. Debi spent the first part of her career working in community mental health as a clinician, and then the program manager for an elementary day treatment program. Debi also started a therapeutic preschool program and provided early childhood mental health consultation services to area preschool programs. Since the start of her work for the Devereux Center for Resilient Children in 2002, she has provided professional development to programs around the country, developed training and resources, and currently manages all aspects of professional development offered by DCRC. When time allows, she still loves to provide training and workshops to programs and communities on topics related to promoting the social-emotional health and resilience of young children, along with the adults who care for them.

Betsy Griffin, Director of Regional Services for Starting Point, has been in the early childhood field for 47 years. Her career started in a childcare program and currently is with Starting Point where she leads a team to work with children, families, and childcare providers to support them and provide resources to promote positive changes and support in their lives. She has coordinated and managed two Devereux Early Childhood Assessment projects, in the Geauga and Lake Counties in Ohio, which include a total of 33 programs with approximately 145 classrooms taking part. She enjoys seeing positive changes through her work. She has been an advocate for children, families, and providers on the local, state, and federal levels. She takes part in local advisory and non-profit organization boards to inform local participants how they can help support the EC profession.

Colleen Wallace is employed by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, as a Regional Master Trainer and IECMH Consultant, serving 17 counties in the Central Ohio area through the Whole Child Matters Grant. She has 20+ years of experience, providing early childhood education and community prevention services in early childhood mental health. Colleen is particularly interested in the topics of relationship and connection but provides training on a variety of other topics. Colleen currently holds the Ohio Infant Mental Health Practitioner Level III (OIMHP-III) credential in the state of Ohio.

Katy Carpenter is currently a Regional Master Trainer and an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant for Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH. Katy received her Bachelor of Social Work from Indiana University and her Master of Science in Social Work from University of Louisville. Katy began working in the field in 2016 in a therapeutic day treatment program for children ages three to five with trauma and behavioral needs. Katy then provided outpatient therapy for children and families for two years before becoming an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant in 2019. Katy is a Regional Master Trainer under the Whole Child Matters Grant. Katy currently holds her ECMH credential and is an independently licensed social worker.

About the Moderator

Dr. Rebecca Berlin has a B.A. in American government and English from Georgetown University, an M.A. in infant and toddler special education from George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in education policy, leadership, and foundations from the University of Virginia. She is recognized as an industry expert and leads many transformative early childhood initiatives throughout the United States. Dr. Berlin has previously served as Executive Director of the Parenting Translator Foundation, Chief Learning Officer at Start Early, and Chief Strategy Officer of Teachstone. She has been an early childhood special education teacher, an inclusion teacher, an autism specialist, and a school administrator. Dr. Berlin is the Senior Vice President of Intellectual Properties at Kaplan Early Learning Company and President of Gryphon House, Inc. She lives in Charlottesville, VA and serves on the school board of Albemarle County Public Schools.