Minnesota Psychological Association
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First Friday Forum: Attachments Past & Present: Updates and Insights
Metropolitan State University, St. Paul Campus – Founders Hall Auditorium
700 E 7th Street
St. Paul, MN 55106
Friday, August 04, 2017, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Category: First Friday Forum (CE)

Attachments Past & Present: Updates and Insights

Friday, August 4, 2017
Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Program: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

About the Presenter:

In her long career at the University of Minnesota, Marti Erickson, Ph.D., served as founding director of the Children, Youth & Family Consortium and director of the Irving B. Harris Training Programs, where she co-led the development of the Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate program.  Marti also was adjunct full professor in the Institute of Child Development and department of Family Social Science. She earned her Ph.D. in 1984 from the University of Minnesota in Educational Psychology.  In 1986, Marti and colleague Byron Egeland, with funding from NIMH, developed and evaluated STEEPTM (Steps Toward Effective, Enjoyable Parenting), an attachment-based preventive intervention for parents and babies at risk of developmental problems. STEEP continues to be implemented and adapted, with Marti's guidance, in many locations, including throughout Germany. Marti has appeared regularly since 1995 as a child and family commentator on KARE-TV news (NBC). Since 2006, Marti and her daughter, Dr. Erin Erickson, also have hosted a weekly parenting show, Mom EnoughRavailable for listening or downloading at www.momenough.com

About the Program

In this interactive presentation, Dr. Marti Erickson draws on more than 40 years of research on attachment, including the groundbreaking Minnesota longitudinal study led by professors Byron Egeland, Alan Sroufe and others; 30 years of implementing and evaluating attachment-based interventions with high-risk parents and children; and extensive experience using media to inform and support parents. Dr Erickson focuses on the role of attachment in human development and factors shown to influence the quality of parent-child attachment, practice implications of attachment research, and the importance of reflective practice. Dr Erickson includes findings for culturally diverse families facing various kinds of risk, including premature birth, maternal depression, and parental history of abuse. Finally Dr. Erickson explores how current trends may be working for or against optimal attachment among parents and children today and how professionals can address some of those trends in practice and advocacy.

This session qualifies for 3.0 continuing education credits. You must attend the full 3-hour program to get continuing education credit for the event.

Participants will be able to:

  1. Discuss major patterns of parent-infant attachment and how those patterns typically develop.
  2. Describe what is meant by a parent's "state of mind" about remembered attachment and how that has been linked to that parent's likely responses to his or her children's emotional needs.
  3. Apply at least one new insight or practical idea about how attachment research relates to your practice.
  4. Identify at least two examples of recent societal changes or parenting trends that could have an impact on quality of parent-child attachment.

The Minnesota Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  The Minnesota Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS:  If you need disability related accommodations, including parking, to make this event accessible, please contact the Metropolitan State University Center for Accessibility Resources, 651-793-1549, or [email protected].

To Register:

Register Online

Download a Registration Form

Refund/Cancellation Policy: A 100% refund will be made if the event is cancelled. Refunds, less a $5 handling free, will be given if a written cancellation is received at least two working days before the scheduled program begins. Transfer of fee to another program is granted if written cancellation notice is received at least one day before the program. No refund or transfer is given the day of the program.


Contact: Rhea Sullivan, (952) 564-3048