Checkerboard Chat: Public-Health Strategies Supporting Brain Development

Presented by One Riverwalk, join UT alumna, Jennifer Drake-Croft ('15) to learn how public-health strategies supporting the development of strong brain architecture for infants and toddlers is critical to preventing the development of leading diseases, social problems, and mental illness. Jennifer serves as the Project Director for the SAMHSA Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Technical Assistance Center (a partnership between Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development and Zero to Three). Prior to this role, Jennifer was the Director of Child Well-Being for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth and served as a primary lead for Building Strong Brains Tennessee, a statewide public-private partnership working to prevent and mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and support strategies to build resilient families and communities.

Jennifer completed her Masters of Science in Social Work in 2015 from the University of Tennessee School of Social Work with a primary focus on child abuse prevention and child trauma. She is endorsed® as an Infant Mental Health Mentor (IMH-E®) in the area of Policy. Jennifer's personal and professional passion is to ensure communities and systems support all children to reach their full potential and contribute to a thriving society.

Panelist:
Jennifer Drake-Croft ‘15