Keynote speaker: Melesa Love, LCSW, IMHM-C, PMH-C

With more than 25 years of clinical experience walking alongside infants, young children, and their families, Melesa brings a wealth of wisdom grounded in relationship-based practice and early relational health. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional, and endorsed Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical, she brings deep expertise to the intersections of perinatal mental health, complex trauma, and relational wellness. Through her practice, Melesa Love Therapy Services in Middle Tennessee, and her work as a Reflective Supervisor Consultant at both state and national levels, Melesa partners with providers, leaders, and organizations across the early childhood field to advance maternal mental health outcomes and strengthen the relational foundations that babies and families deserve. We are honored to welcome her to this year's conference.

Keynote speaker: Darneshia Allen

We are also delighted to welcome Darneshia Allen, Training and Technical Assistance Integration Manager with Safe Babies, a program of ZERO TO THREE. With more than 30 years of experience working with young children and families and over 16 years of continuous leadership within ZERO TO THREE, Darneshia has been a steadfast champion for the safety, well-being, and relational health of infants and toddlers navigating adversity. Her roots in deep community engagement with urban families, combined with her national reach supporting states and sites in implementing the Safe Babies approach, give her a perspective that is both grounded and expansive. Across child welfare, dependency courts, early care and education, and infant and early childhood mental health, Darneshia brings the kind of insight and authenticity that comes from years spent in genuine partnership with families and communities. We are so glad she will be with us this fall

Shelley Mayse, LSCSW, IMH-E®

Infant Mental Health Mentor - Clinical
Shelley Mayse is currently in private practice and provides clinical consultation and reflective supervision to individuals and home visiting programs. Shelley has over 25 years’ experience working with children and families in a variety of settings: early childhood mental health, schools, hospice, and community mental health. She is a trained Life Coach, Infant Massage instructor, and Clinical Infant Mental Health Mentor. She is a
Past President of the Kansas Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Assoc (KAIMH) and an active member of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health. She is a founding board member of the Missouri Assoc. for Infant Mental Health (MOAIMH-EC). Shelley is a national practice leader who has worked with many professionals across the early childhood system in both Missouri and Kansas. She has presented on reflective
practice and supervision at many state and national conferences. Shelley enjoys providing Reflective Supervision for individuals and groups and is passionate about using expressive art experiences to facilitate positive growth and transform the way we understand ourselves and the work we do.

Denise McDrummond, M.Ed., IECMH-E®

Denise McDrummond serves as Executive Director of the Missouri Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (MOAIMH-EC). An Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health-Endorsed® professional and Reflective Supervisor, Denise brings more than two decades of experience supporting young children, families, and the professionals who care for them. Her work has included roles as an early childhood educator, coach, trainer, foster parent, and leader in infant and early childhood mental health systems.

Denise is passionate about the power of relationships to create change and believes that what we offer children must also be offered to the adults who support them. Through reflective practice, leadership development, and workforce support, she works to strengthen the systems that help children and families thrive.

Diana Perry, MA IMH-E®

Diana has worked with infants and toddlers for over 18 years. She has a Master’s degree in guidance and counseling. She has experience as an elementary school guidance counselor, parent educator with Parents as Teachers, and a service coordinator with Missouri First Steps.  She has been the Director of Missouri First Steps in the Greater KC region since 2017.   Diana currently serves on the board, the Executive Committee, and is the Chair of the Endorsement Committee for the Missouri Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.  She is endorsed as an Infant Family Specialist and also serves as an Endorsed Reflective Supervisor. She is passionate about helping build relationships for families and all those who work with children, prenatal through age 5.  

Bre-Ann Slay, psyD lp imh-e®

Dr. Slay is an Endorsed Infant Mental Health Specialist and Reflective Supervisor specializing in infant and early childhood mental health, child welfare, and diagnostic assessment. She is rostered in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) and Iowa Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and serves as an Iowa PCIT trainer. Her work is grounded in a passion for strengthening relationships, supporting professional growth, and advancing quality services for children and families.

In addition to her clinical work, Bre-Ann serves as the Endorsement Coordinator for MOAIMH-EC. She enjoys bringing together creativity and organization, using both big-picture thinking and practical problem-solving to support systems, streamline processes, and create meaningful learning experiences. Whether mapping out a new initiative, designing resources, or supporting workforce development efforts, she is driven by a commitment to helping people feel supported, connected, and successful in their work.

Michele Utt, MPA IMH-E®

Michele currently serves as the Community Coordinator for Missouri’s first Safe Babies Court Team site in Kansas City. She earned a bachelor’s degree in child and Family Development and a master’s in public administration. Michele is endorsed in Infant Mental Health through the Missouri Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and also serves as an Endorsed Reflective Supervisor. She is currently working towards her certification in IECMH Consultation through Georgetown University. Michele adores all things “babies”. She loves spending time with her family and has been blessed with her first granddaughter whom she cherishes every moment the opportunity
presents itself.