Thank-you from Joan Shirilla, Immediate Past President, MI-AIMH

Serving as MI-AIMH President for the last two years has been a very gratifying experience. So much has been accomplished due to the very hard work of Members who volunteer their time, At-Large and Liaison Board Members, and Central Office Staff.

OUR REMARKABLE MEMBERS

A huge thank-you to each and every MI-AIMH member who volunteers time and energy on behalf of healthy infants, young children, families and relationships.  You have planned the MI-AIMH Conference, coordinated quarterly trainings, organized chapter meetings, developed new material for a reflective supervision DVD, attended policy and practice meetings in Lansing, contributed to policy papers and systems change, reached out to prospective members across all systems, generated a new research consortium across universities, just to name a few of the many incredible and generous member activities.

OUR TERRIFIC BOARD

I would like to thank the MI-AIMH Board of Directors, At-Large Board Members and Liaisons to the Board for their time and dedication, especially the Executive Committee for their commitment and countless hours of work on behalf of MI-AIMH. Special thanks to Doug Davies, Vice President, for his assistance, support and work on our collaboration with the Michigan Department of Human Services, and to Cathy Liesman, Treasurer, for her continuing commitment to a fiscally sound organization!  

OUR OUTSTANDING STAFF

Thanks also to our outstanding Central Office staff for their exemplary work: Deborah Weatherston, Executive Director; Nichole Paradis, Assistant Director and Endorsement Coordinator; Sheryl Goldberg, Training Institute Coordinator; Ashley McCormick, Workforce Development Specialist, and Deborah Kahraman, Administrative Assistant. They are remarkable in what they accomplish on behalf of infants, very young children and their families each and every day.

OUR SUCCESS AS AN ORGANZATION

MI-AIMH is currently engaged in strategic/sustainability planning to ensure the organization’s financial sustainability as well as to redesign the organizational structure to continue to meet the needs of MI-AIMH in Michigan as well as to support those states who have purchased a license to use the MI-AIMH Competency Guidelines® and Endorsement® through their infant mental health associations. 

The strength of MI-AIMH lies in its members.  We tipped the scale in 2013 with over 600 members.  Additional figures to celebrate:

  • 545 MI-AIMH members have been endorsed.

  • 290 MI-AIMH Endorsement applications are in process.

Our efforts extend beyond Michigan.  17 states have purchased a license to use the MI-AIMH Competency Guidelines® and Endorsement® and have formed an informal league of states, with others pending.

Add to this, MI-AIMH enters 2014 in a strong financial position!   

MI-AIMH is well poised to move into the future because of the work of many people.   It has been my privilege to work with the board and Central Office staff and I am grateful to each and every person for their contributions.