UPDATED 2024: Baby Know: Bodies, Hearts & Minds Unit 2: 4-6 months

Additional Instructor Bios:

Andrea Castillo: Andrea is a research professional working to advance interventions for children with disabilities and their families. She provides naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions to children with autism and their families in the modality of parent coaching through telehealth in the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration’s study to bridging barriers to early intervention access. This study aims to learn about the efficacy of the intervention and improve equitable access to early interventions. She combines her experience of several years serving families as an early childhood parent educator and child’s therapeutic skills trainer to provide equitable and diverse lends to current needs in the Latine community. She advocates to improve culturally responsive services in early childhood as a parent connector for the Help Me Grow referral system in MN, outreaching and providing training to improve outcomes and engagement of Latine families in Minnesota. She enjoys being part of the BABY KNOW program as an instructor since she is passionate about equitable access to services and education for families with children with disabilities that she continues to strive for higher education by currently studying Special Education M.A at the University of Minnesota.

Bethany DeJarnatt, MOT, OTR/L: Bethany is a pediatric occupational therapist, parent educator and children’s yoga instructor. She has many years of experience working with families with children in the areas of sensory modulation, functional visual skills, and supporting developmental skills. She has completed additional training in children’s yoga, mindfulness based stress reduction, infant massage and visual processing interventions. She is passionate about educating parents with tangible information to empower them. Bethany encourages mindfulness as a tool to support co-regulation; supporting families to feel empowered and engaged to build a collaborative relationship with their children.

Brandon Jones, MA, CPPM: Brandon, serving as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health, brings a wealth of expertise in consulting and therapy. His focus areas encompass Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Historical and Intergenerational trauma, Social/Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Leadership, and the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Brandon wanted to be involved with the BABY KNOW program because he believes that early childhood education is crucial for a child's development and overall success. He enjoys leading the "learning through play lessons" since through play, parents teach their children problem-solving, creativity, and social skills, which are all important for school readiness. Brandon's academic journey boasts a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Minnesota, a master's in Community Psychology from Metropolitan State University, and a master's in Psychotherapy (MFT) from Adler Graduate School. His distinction as a 2013 Bush Foundation Leadership Fellow also speaks to his dedication to leadership excellence. His life ethos is encapsulated in the motto: "Live life with Purpose on Purpose."

Candi (Walz) Seil, MPP: Candi has a broad career of working as a college professor, in the healthcare industry, working with families and running the Let’s Talk Kids business. She is passionate about supporting learners of all ages. As the parent of two kids, she has found great joy in practicing mindfulness while raising her children. She believes in the power of positive affirmations and spending time with family. Most recently, she has taken “The Science of WellBeing” course through Yale University to learn more about the positive effects we can have on our minds and hearts. She is eager to share this with other families and uplift adults to bond with and love the children in their lives.

Mary Vang Her, LICSW: Mary is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and a Senior Clinical Supervisor for the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s School-Based Mental Health program. Since 2010, Mary has developed and grown a culturally specific school-based mental health program called “Hlub Zoo” (love well, grow well) that supports the mental health needs of Hmong and Southeast Asian children in St. Paul schools. Mary is now recognized as a thought leader in the field of Hmong mental health both regionally and nationally. She has presented at several local, regional, and national conferences on Hmong mental health, and she is committed to educating other social service professionals about the benefits of providing culturally responsive services to the community. Mary's enthusiasm for being a wellness instructor in the BABY KNOW course stems from her deep understanding of the significance of connection, attunement, and engagement in fostering strong and meaningful relationships. In her role, Mary recognizes that establishing a strong bond between caregivers and babies is foundational to the overall well-being and development of both parties. By emphasizing these principles, Mary aims to empower caregivers with the tools and knowledge needed to nurture healthy relationships with their babies, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of positive interaction and growth. She recently started her private practice; Mary Vang Her Counseling and Consultation Services and hopes to provide therapeutic services throughout Minnesota.