Professional Perspectives: A Look at Our Work with Young Children and Families
The early childhood field as a whole works together to ensure babies and families have the support they need to thrive.
The early childhood field is composed of many disciplines and professional roles working to support a strong start for all babies and their families.
In addition to this shared mission, the ZERO TO THREE multi-discipline community is guided by this core value statement:
Click on a discipline below to take a glimpse at who and how early childhood professionals are, and what we do.
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
IECMH Clinician
In a small, softly lit therapy room filled with toys, books, and pillows, an infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) clinician sits on the floor beside a caregiver and her toddler, creating a space where big emotions are welcomed and tiny voices are heard. Today, the clinician gently narrates the toddler’s play, helping the child make sense of confusing feelings through building blocks and stuffed animals, while also supporting the caregiver in noticing and responding to her child’s cues.
As the toddler reenacts themes of separation and reunion, the clinician helps the caregiver reflect on how past experiences may be shaping current interactions, all while strengthening the bond between them. With patience, warmth, and attunement, the clinician weaves together play, relationship, and reflective insight — offering a healing path forward for both parent and child.
Early Childhood Education
Infant-Toddler Educator
In a warm and lively infant-toddler classroom, an early educator moves seamlessly between songs, stories, and moments of hands-on support, deeply attuned to each child’s developmental journey. When 10-month-old Adan struggles to reconnect pop-beads, his teacher gently positions herself nearby, offering assistance while encouraging persistence with calm, validating language.
Across the room, a 4-month-old named Liam sits nestled in his caregiver’s lap, mesmerized by the rhythm of a familiar song. His educator introduces a new finger play just for him, carefully chosen to match his emerging motor skills while keeping older toddlers engaged. Later in the day, 2-year-old Stacy joyfully joins her teacher in reenacting Going on a Bear Hunt, delighting in the familiar phrases and movements as the two chant and pretend together.
Through intentional planning, responsive interactions, and deep relationships, infant-toddler educators nurture curiosity, communication, and confidence — laying a foundation for lifelong learning in the earliest years.
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Physical Health
HealthySteps Affiliate
By Phoebe Jordan, PhD and Chimereodo Okoroji, PhD, NCSP
At a busy urban pediatric clinic, the Healthy Steps (HS) team met Benji, a spirited two-year-old, and his mother during a routine well-child visit — just one touchpoint in a longer history of support. When concerns about Benji’s behavior and possible developmental delays emerged, the HS specialist didn’t just respond with parenting strategies; she created a space where Benji’s mother could share her story openly, including the pressures of parenting in recovery and past trauma related to losing custody of an older child.
With empathy and consistency, the HS team offered both clinical coordination — referring for developmental evaluations and early interventions — and tangible supports like diapers, food, and help securing transportation. Perhaps most critically, they worked to reduce stigma in the healthcare environment, ensuring Benji’s mother had trusted providers and felt safe returning for care.
The steady presence of the HS team helped maintain this family’s connection to medical, behavioral, and developmental services, reinforcing the idea that when families affected by substance use are met with dignity and reliable support, they can thrive.
HS specialists play a vital role in promoting reflective practice in parents with substance use histories. In our follow-up visits, we spent extensive time talking through coping strategies with Benji’s mother and identifying her triggers in the past for using substances.
Child Welfare & Social Services
Safe Babies Team Member
In a quiet meeting room at a child welfare agency, a child welfare specialist from the Safe Babies™ team sits with a foster caregiver and a young birth parent, gently guiding a conversation focused on the needs of their 8-month-old daughter.
Grounded in the principles of the Safe Babies approach, which include infant mental health, collaborative teaming, and frequent family time, the child welfare specialist supports both caregivers in seeing the child not just through the lens of custody, but as a person with deep emotional needs and potential. They help facilitate co-parenting practices, encourage consistent nurturing connections during visits, and coordinate with medical, legal, and social service teams to ensure the infant’s developmental and relational well-being are front and center.
With compassion and clarity, the Safe Babies child welfare specialist brings hope and healing into a system often marked by disruption, helping everyone involved focus on what matters most: the baby’s secure, loving relationships and long-term wellbeing.
Early Identification & Intervention
Early Intervention Specialist
In a cozy living room filled with the familiar sounds of toddler chatter and clinking toys, an early interventionist kneels beside a young child and her mother, observing their play with gentle curiosity. The early interventionist, part of the state’s early intervention program under Part C of IDEA, is there to support the family in responding to their daughter’s speech delays, which had raised concerns at her last pediatric visit.
Together, they review the child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), identifying simple, meaningful ways to promote language development through daily routines like snack time and bath time. The early interventionist coaches the mother in strategies to encourage her daughter’s communication and celebrates small milestones as they emerge. With a focus on collaboration, developmental knowledge, and relationship-building, the early intervention specialist offers more than strategies — they offer hope, empowerment, and a deep belief in the child’s potential.
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