October Third Thursday
Addressing Preschool Expulsion: Measuring the Impact of Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in SC
October Third Thursday
What to Expect
You're invited to join us as Josie Sawyer (SCIMHA) and Dr. Jayley Janssen (Indigo Cultural Center) present recent findings from a multi-year evaluation of SCIMHA’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program, PEAR – Partners for Early Attuned Relationships.Â
Their session will introduce participants to the PEAR model, highlight key evaluation results, and discuss practical implications for early care and education settings.
Special attention will be given to recommendations for using IECMHC to reduce preschool expulsion risk, strengthen resilience, and support young children’s social-emotional competence.
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Meet the presenters
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Josie Sawyer, MSW, LCSW
Director of Programs at SCIMHA
Josie Sawyer is a licensed clinical social worker with experience in nonprofit administration and a passion for relationship-focused child mental health treatment. She currently serves as Director of Programs at South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association, where she oversees SCIMHA’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program, PEAR.Â
As a licensed mental health clinician, Josie spent a decade of her career working with young children and families in a community mental health setting, where she received specialized training in infant-mental health treatment modalities and worked closely with child welfare-involved families. Â
More recently, Josie served as Clinical and Executive Director of Lucy Daniels Center in NC, where she oversaw an outpatient clinic, early childhood home-visiting program, therapeutic preschool and elementary school, mental health consultation program, and various outreach programs for young children and families. Â
In her current role with SCIMHA, Josie also leads SCIMHA’s Safe Babies Court program, with a special focus on ensuring child-welfare practices support the development and mental health of very young children whose families have become court involved.
 Dr. Jayley Janssen, PhD
Director, Institute for Child Development Research & Social Change, Indigo Cultural Center
Dr. Jayley Janssen is the Director of the Institute for Child Development Research and Social Change at Indigo Cultural Center which conducts community-based participatory action research and evaluations.Â
Her work has consistently focused on uplifting community voice and ensuring that evaluation is not just about measuring outcomes, but also about building understanding and strengthening programs in partnership with those delivering and receiving services.
Much of Dr. Janssen’s current work centers on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC). She collaborates closely with partners to design and carry out evaluations that reflect the realities of providers, caregivers, and young children. Her approach combines data and lived experience to highlight how IECMHC supports workforce development, promotes caregiver–child relationships, and drives systems change toward equity.
She is committed to using evaluation as a tool for learning, growth, and impact alongside her IECMHC partners.
