Staff

Executive Director, Heidi Maderia, MS, IMH-E®                                                       email: [email protected]

Heidi previously held positions as Early Childhood SAMHSA Grant Training Coordinator, Family Resource Center Coordinator and Childcare Program Director.  Heidi has spent her career serving children 0-6 who are experiencing a myriad of social, emotional and behavior issues, and has been privileged to partner with their families to discover, enhance and integrate the best supports for them, while promoting the importance of positive first relationships. Heidi attended Boston College and Eastern Connecticut State University, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, is endorsed in Infant Mental Health through CT-AIMH; and presents frequently at local, state, and national conferences on issues related to infant toddler mental health and development.

Director of Programs and Development, Heather Black, LPCA, IMH-E®                  email: [email protected]

Heather has 15+ years of experience in promotion, prevention, and treatment services for families and children ages 0-18. In a former role as Program Manager for Wheeler Clinic, she worked on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) funded Project LAUNCH grant, where she spearheaded the 2019 Healthy From Day One Parent Leadership Summit and coordinated the State Young Child Wellness Workgroup, a subcommittee of the CT Office of Early Childhood. She became acquainted with the Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health (CT AIMH) on this grant and became endorsed in Infant Mental Health. Heather served on the CT AIMH Professional Development Advisory Committee and served one year on the Board. More recently, in Heather’s position at the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation, she helped establish the Northwest Regional Early Childhood Alliance and served as the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative co-chair for a year. Heather was a part of the Maternal Child Health’s Reproductive Justice Alliance (RJA) and the Respectful Care research project to ensure equity and access to quality care for black and brown maternal health in Connecticut. Heather’s academic journey includes earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Studies with a minor in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in School Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health. Heather’s experience in providing therapeutic mentoring for children in foster care, counseling for youth, and treatment for victims of interpersonal violence, as well as her role as a Parent Educator in Family Resource Centers, further demonstrates her expertise. Heather’s passion for supporting the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) workforce and promoting the well-being of families and young children is evident in her professional and personal life. She is also an avid lover of culture and travel.

Professional Development Coordinator, Roxy Carboni, IMH-E®                                      email: [email protected]

CT-AIMH Contractual Staff:

Associate Director, Angela Webster, MSW, IECMH-E®                                                   email: [email protected]

Angela brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, organizational development, and systems-building in service of young children and families. She previously served as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN), where she led the organization from early development into a multi-million-dollar nonprofit with growing national reach. Her work has focused on strengthening the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) workforce through strategy and operational alignment, professional development, and the development of sustainable systems that support reflective practice and relationship-based care. Angela has partnered with state agencies, community organizations, and national leaders to align policy, practice, and funding in support of children ages prenatal to age 8 and their families. She brings particular expertise in translating complex systems into clear, actionable strategies that strengthen both organizational capacity and community impact. In addition to her leadership work, Angela designs and facilitates learning experiences for nonprofit and early childhood leaders, with a focus on alignment, decision-making, and sustainable growth. Angela holds undergraduate degrees in Early Childhood Education and Social Work and a Master’s degree in Social Work. She is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Policy Mentor through AIMHiTN and is committed to advancing the IECMH field through thoughtful leadership, strong partnerships, and a deep respect for the relationships at the center of this work. Outside of her professional work, Angela enjoys time with her family and is invigorated by adventure and travel, always seeking opportunities to explore new places and perspectives.

Endorsement Coordinator, Heather Bonitz Moore, MS, ATR-BC, LPC, IMH-E®            email: [email protected]

Heather previously held a position of a Director of Early Childhood Services. Heather is currently in private practice in SE Connecticut, facilitates Reflective Supervision/Consultation groups and is a trainer for CT-AIMH.  Heather attended Long Island University, CW Post Campus and Springfield College, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Therapy, a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is endorsed in Infant Mental Health through CT-AIMH.

Director of Professional Development, Marina Rodriguez Aulet, MA.Ed., IMH-E®   email: [email protected]

Marina Rodriguez Aulet is a Puerto Rican-born educator, coach, and community organizer who has spent the majority of her life in New Haven, CT, dedicating over 25 years to working directly with families, children, and early childhood educators. Raised by a single mother within a close-knit family, Marina deeply understands how secure, nurturing relationships and community care are foundational to healthy development—particularly within systematically marginalized communities. Marina entered the early childhood workforce at 18 as a young parent in Head Start, an experience that shaped her relational, reflective, and strengths-based approach to the work. Across the public and nonprofit sectors, she has become a recognized subject matter expert in child development, attachment, adult learning, facilitation, coaching, and content development—bringing an infant mental health lens to each of these domains.Her work is rooted in the belief that the earliest relationships — between caregivers and children, between educators and families, and between coaches and staff — are the foundation upon which all growth is built. Marina is purposeful in empowering women who work with children to implement responsive, culturally informed, and developmentally appropriate practices. She supports both new and experienced Family Child Care providers in approaching their work from a deeply relational and reflective space, knowing that when caregivers feel held and supported, children thrive.In her role as Director of Professional Development with the Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health (CT-AIMH), Marina contributes her relational lens to strengthening professional learning within the infant and early childhood mental health field.Marina wholeheartedly believes that transformation happens in community—because she has lived it and witnessed it firsthand. She welcomes connection and collaboration. Reach out; she’d love to hear from you.

Professional Development Consultant and Trainer, Anne Giordano, MA, IMH-E®      email: [email protected]

Anne has served as manager of Part C Birth-3 and Early Head Start programs, before moving into the role of Early Childhood Specialist. She has additionally coordinated numerous grants addressing the needs of young children experiencing homelessness. Her past work also included overseeing the MDE-Foster Care Clinic at Ed Advance.  Anne specializes in working with infants, toddlers and families; and for the past 25 years has worked at EdAdvance (formerly Education Connection) the regional educational service center in western CT.  Anne’s role with CT Association for Infant Mental Health includes developing, coordinating and presenting statewide training in infant mental health for child welfare staff, early care providers and home visitors; and facilitating group Reflective Supervision/Consultation.  Anne holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University, is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Clinical Mentor through the CT-AIMH; and presents frequently at local, state, and national conferences on issues related to infant toddler mental health and development.

Bilingual Endorsement Assistant, Jolie Garfinkel, BA, MA, IMH-E®

Bookkeeper, Laura Poquette

Yale Support Staff, Linda Isakson