Effective leaders of infant-family programs create relationships characterized by trust, support, and growth among professional colleagues, parents, and children. These relationships profoundly effect the quality of services provided by infant-family programs. Reflective leadership is characterized by self-awareness, careful and continuous observation, and respectful, flexible responses that result in reflective and relationship-based programs.
The Discoveries of an Accidental Tourist
Read about author Robert Weigand’s personal and professional journey through reflective supervision he received as a teacher of toddlers in an early childhood center.
Leadership self-assessment tool
Brief series of statements and reflective questions that offer insight into one’s leadership style.
Three building blocks of reflective supervision
Describes the central elements of reflective supervision.
What is reflective leadership?
Describes key characteristics of reflective leaders.
Leadership as a way of thinking
Addresses the question of what it means to be a leader and three perspectives through which to view leadership.
Elements of a reflective practice model
Highlights the processes and activities found to be helpful in a model for professional and organizational change.
Strategies to implement reflective programs
One program’s experience in laying the foundation for a relationship-based organization and implementing a reflective practice model.
Definition by Jeree Pawl, former director of the Infant-Family Program, San Francisco General Hospital.
One program shares its experience
Profiles experience in Early Head Start program in Oregon to build a reflective program.
Collaborative peer supervision
Describes a continuing education model to promote professional competence.
California Center for Early Childhood Mental Health
Training guidelines and an explanation of the Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement process, with a link to the application.
Early Childhood Mental Health Resources
A list of resources related to infant and early childhood mental health.
Finding the words, finding the ways: Exploring Reflective Supervision
A video series showing reflective supervision in different settings, including a Head Start setting, and a home visitor setting.
Campbell, S. (2005). Caretaking in a nurturing way: Replicating relationship-based, reflective models in Healthy Families programs. Zero to Three, 25(5).
Learning through Supervision and Mentorship to Support the Development of Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families: A Sourcebook
By Emily Fenichel (Ed.) (1992)
Pitkin, A. & Norman-Murch, T. (2005). Toward relational, reflective, nurturing practice in multisite programs. Zero to Three, 25(5).
Reflective supervision: Stories from the Field
Rebecca Parlakian (2002)
Humboldt ECE 