Deborah Weatherston
Infant Mental Health Scholarship
Biography
Deborah J. Weatherston, Ph.D., has had a far-reaching and transformative impact on persons who work with infants and toddlers, and on the field of Infant Mental Health in Michigan and around the world. Dr. Weatherston co-founded the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program in Infant Mental Health at the Merrill Palmer Institute (now Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute) in 1988 and served as its director until 2004.
Under her leadership, the first university training program in infant mental health was created, including graduate level coursework, clinical field placements, an opportunity to observe infant development in the context of relationships, and space for clinicians to reflect on their work. Nearly 100 students earned their Infant Mental Health Certificate during her tenure, and she co-authored the first manual for Infant Mental Health Home Visiting, now in its third edition.
Dr. Weatherston became executive director of the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH) in 2001. During 15 years in this position, she helped to develop the MI-AIMH Competency Guidelines©) and the Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive Relationship Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health. This endorsement was critical to the profession of Infant Mental Health as it outlines best-practice standards for persons providing relationship-based services to infants, toddlers, and their families. The Competency Guidelines© and endorsement have been adopted by 29 Infant Mental Health Associations in the US, as well as in Australia and Ireland.
Dr. Weatherston led the formation of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, which includes 31 Infant Mental Health Associations. She served as the Alliance's first director for two years before retiring. Dr. Weatherston is editor-in-chief of Perspectives in Infant Mental Health (the journal of the World Association for Infant Mental Health) and has published 30 scholarly articles and two books related to infant-parent intervention services and reflective supervision.
Dr. Weatherston received her Ph.D. in Education, Sociology, and Psychology from Wayne State University. Her post-graduate work includes a Graduate Certificate in Infant Mental Health. She is a licensed social worker and holds an Infant Mental Health Mentor endorsement.
Honoring a Lifetime of Good Works
The Deborah J. Weatherston Infant Mental Health Scholarship honors Dr. Weatherston's lifetime of developmental and clinical work, leadership, and mentorship that measurably improved the welfare of infants by expanding and professionalizing Infant Mental Health best practice. Her scholarship will support diversity in the profession of Infant Mental Health by providing financial support to students with financial need who are enrolled in the Dual-Title Degree Program in Infant Mental Health at Wayne State University.
Your gift to the Weatherston Scholarship can increase support to students in need and help build the fund into a lasting endowment. We thank you in advance for your contribution.