Webinar
Caring for caregivers: your starting point to strengthen ECE staff mental well-being
May 08, 2025 01:00 PM America/New_York
Running on empty? You're not alone.
Staff burnout is at an all time high—and it's time we talked about it.
Quality care starts with the providers. So, if we want to support children’s well-being, we’ve got to start with our own.
Join us as we sit down with Dr. Méroudjie Denis and Vanessa Stuart from Momentous Institute, as they share practical, actionable tips to manage stress and protect your mental health—even when you feel like you can’t catch a break.
Because you can’t pour from an empty cup—and you shouldn’t have to.
Join this webinar to learn:
- Real answers from Dr. Denis and Vanessa to the top mental health questions ECE directors and educators are asking right now.
- Practical tips to boost your own mental well-being—even on your busiest days
- Advice for staff: How to talk to your director when you're feeling overwhelmed
- Guidance for directors: How to spot burnout and support your team before it spirals
- Get specific, actionable strategies that you can start today!
- A look into the powerful work Momentous Institute is doing to help childcare providers - like you - take care of yourself.
Vanessa Stuart
Vanessa Stuart is the Director of Educational Program Innovation at Momentous Institute, where she leverages her extensive background in public education to enhance educational frameworks and mental health education.
Holding a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, Vanessa is also advancing her expertise by pursuing a Ph.D. focused on teacher studies. Her career in education has spanned various roles, including teacher, diagnostician, curriculum coordinator, and principal, with her leadership earning her schools’ recognition as models of best practice.
A two-time finalist for Texas in the National Elementary Principal's Distinguished Principal Award, Vanessa's contributions to education have been published widely, particularly on topics such as professional learning communities and fostering positive school cultures.
Dr. Méroudjie Denis
Dr. Méroudjie Denis is a licensed psychologist, school psychologist and licensed social worker with 16 years of experience working in the mental health field. She obtained her doctorate in psychology, with a specialization in school neuropsychology from Texas Women’s University, a Master of Science in social work from the University of Texas in Arlington, and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Dallas.
Dr. Denis joined the Momentous Institute in 2014 and currently serves as the Director of Clinical Program Innovation. Her clinical expertise is centered on adolescent mental health, specializing in the treatment of complex trauma. Her diverse educational background reflects her passion for working at the intersection of mental health and education.
Dr. Denis’ mission is to help communities reduce stigmas around mental health, aiming for a world where our mental well-being is as valued as our physical health. Dr. Denis is a trainer and public speaker specializing in the neurobiological impact of stress and trauma. She has delivered training sessions across the United States and internationally, including in the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. Her expertise is highlighted in her TEDx talk, "Breaking the Myth of the Bad Student," which delves into the neurological effects of stress and trauma on students.
Dr. Denis is dedicated to changing the course of education by empowering professionals with the knowledge to create mental health-informed and trauma-sensitive environments where every child and educator can thrive.
Adrienne Shannon
Adrienne is the Early Childhood Editor and Marketing Manager for Famly’s US market. She is a regular contributor to Famly’s articles and has interviewed many experts in the field of early childhood all around the world. Her favorite topics to cover include leadership, staff retention, dual language learning, parent engagement, behavior and development. More recently, she has dived into the hot topic of AI in early childhood education, what it means for the sector, its benefits and its shortfalls.
Adrienne graduated from NYU, and completed a Masters program at the University of Copenhagen, where she lived for 4 years and joined Famly. She has not returned stateside.
With a background in psychology, communication, and marketing, she loves supporting the most important part of a person’s life: early childhood. You can often find her looking at photos and watching videos of her nieces and nephews.