Staff

Interim Executive Director & 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]

Roxy is passionate about supporting the growth and success of the infant and early childhood workforce. Roxy brings years of lived experience navigating the foster care and adoptive systems, giving her a unique perspective on the importance of nurturing relationships, resilience, and advocacy for children and families. Roxy’s personal journey has shaped her commitment to being a voice and champion for children, particularly those who have experienced adversity. Roxy believes that strengthening the professionals who serve children and families ultimately creates stronger communities and brighter futures. In her role, she enjoys guiding members of the IMH workforce through their endorsement pathway, helping them navigate the process with encouragement, organization, and a commitment to their professional growth. Roxy is dedicated to creating a supportive experience that empowers professionals to achieve their goals while advancing high-quality, relationship-based practice. Roxy is honored to contribute to a field that values lifelong learning, collaboration, and the well-being of children and families. Every opportunity to support the workforce is an opportunity to help strengthen the systems that make a lasting difference in children’s lives.

CT-AIMH Contractual Staff:

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®

Yale Support Staff, Linda Issakson