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Meghan Schmelzer, LMSW, IECMH®

Senior Manager
We are all wired for connection and if we want to create communities that thrive, it starts with how we nurture our babies.

What the mission means to Meghan

I’ve dedicated my career to supporting the mental health of babies and the adults that care for them because it just makes sense, morally, socially, scientifically. Mental health is the foundation for all development, therefore it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that babies get the best start in life, and it begins with nurturing their mental health in connection with the mental health of their caregivers.

Professional Background

Meghan Schmelzer, MSW, IECMH-E is the Senior Manager of the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Policy Team within ZERO TO THREE. In this role, she supports states, tribes and grantees  through multiple projects, such as the ZTT IECMH Financing Policy Project (FPP) and SAMHSA IECMH Technical Assistance Center. With an emphasis on building relationships and imbedding reflective practice, both at the individual and systems levels, Meghan supports state and community leaders to build IECMH into all aspects of the early childhood system. Meghan began her career as an infant mental health home-based clinician and worked primarily with families in the child welfare system in Flint, Michigan. She then moved to the Behavioral Health Division of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, supporting the state’s IECMH Consultation team (known as Social Emotional Consultants), as the state IECMH Coordinator. Meghan highlights her own Reflective Supervision journey in this article, The Intersection of Leadership and Vulnerability: Making the Case for Reflective Supervision/Consultation for Policy and Systems Leaders | The Infant Crier. In 2024, Meghan co-created the IECMHC Calculator | Early Childhood Support | Zero to Three.  Three of her proudest professional accomplishments are supporting the reunification of a number of families within the Baby Court system in Flint, Michigan; Reviving and sustaining Michigan’s IECMH Consultation state services and providing Reflective Supervision/Consultation to both individual clinicians working toward their endorsement, and leaders in the IECMH policy systems world. Meghan lives in Michigan with her husband Stefan, and three children Tessa (12), William (10) and Sanna (6). They love all outdoor adventures and Notre Dame football season. 

 Awards and Accolades

  • Infant Mental Health Mentor‑ Clinical & Policy, 2022 

Future Vision

My vision is for the early childhood field to collectively support prevention, promotion and treatment of mental health for our babies, toddlers and their families. Everyone who touches the life of a baby or toddler has an opportunity to foster these connections. My hope is for everyone who works within this field, to recognize that it begins with supporting our own mental health, so that we can offer the highest quality of services and systems that our littlest ones deserve.