A RIPPLE EFFECT, FROM THE CLASSROOM TO OUR COMMUNITY
Now in its sixth year, the Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Fellowship is an ongoing program that supports participants throughout a semester with weekly learning in tandem with reflective supervision that supports peer relationships and networking across organizations. The fellowship also includes internships with community organizations, connecting participants to community resources, families, and interdisciplinary professionals in early childhood and family services.
This past spring, the cohort welcomed six students from Colorado State University, including Jess Adams, our first occupational therapy doctorate student, and Shannon Skjerseth, a Master of Social Work (MSW) student.
“Being in the fellowship was both exciting and rewarding,” Jess said. “Although previous cohorts primarily included social work students, I always felt welcomed and valued. The interdisciplinary environment allowed me to share the occupational therapy perspective while learning from professionals with different backgrounds and experiences.”
“I had such a great cohort and was so happy to meet so many folks in the field of early childhood mental health,” Shannon said. “It really is a special community, and we all do so much to make Larimer County what it is and where people want to live. I’m also so excited to see the passage of 1B and can’t wait to see the ripple effect it has on our families in town.”
Cohort Experiences Beyond Instruction
This past spring’s cohort participants included two MSW students, one bachelor’s in social work student, two bachelor’s of human development and family studies students, and one occupational therapy doctorate student.
Fellows engaged in weekly didactics and an ongoing reflective group hosted by local social work professionals (Laura Sidener and Jenny Woodard). Fellows also connected with and learned from presenters from NoCo Kids Thrive and external partners including parents and professionals from Peaceful Birth Company, 3 Hopeful Hearts, CSU Trauma and Resilience Assessment Center, Foothills Gateway/EI, Willow Collective, Poudre School District, Thompson School District, Larimer Department of Human Services, and the Colorado Department of Education.
Fellows met in person at the beginning and end of the semester. Each participant received a $3,000 stipend and signed a letter of service agreement to attempt to find work in Larimer County for 2 years in return, helping the fellowship directly benefit Larimer County’s early education workforce. A grant from Larimer County Behavioral Health Services funds the program.
Fellows Share Their Insights
Jess completed her internship at Teaching Tree Early Learning Center. She graduated in May and is working locally at Soar Autism Center, providing early intervention OT to children ages 0-5 who have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.
Shannon, who completed her internship at Peaceful Birth Company, will be finishing her MSW in 2027.
We asked Jess and Shannon about their experiences in the cohort.
Jess Adams and the Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Fellowship:
How did you hear about the fellowship?
I first learned about the NoCo Kids Thrive Fellowship through Colorado State University's Occupational Therapy Department, specifically Dr. Lisa Fyffe. As I was looking for opportunities to deepen my understanding of early childhood and community-based practice, the fellowship stood out because of its commitment to improving outcomes for children and families across Northern Colorado.
What inspired you to participate?
I've always been passionate about early intervention and supporting children in their everyday environments. The fellowship was an opportunity to learn beyond the traditional occupational therapy curriculum by collaborating with professionals from other disciplines and gaining a broader understanding of the systems that truly impact child development and family well-being.
Tell us a little bit about your internship--what were some of the learnings and highlights?
I completed my doctoral capstone at the Teaching Tree Early Learning Center, where I developed and implemented an embedded occupational therapy model within preschool classrooms after Lisa Fyffe's Occupational Therapy Embedded in Early Childhood Education (OTEEC) model. I partnered with teachers to create practical strategies that supported children's regulation, participation, independence, and school readiness during everyday routines. One of the biggest highlights was seeing how collaborative problem-solving with teachers could make a meaningful difference for both educators and children. My capstone also became the foundation for my doctoral research, and my manuscript is currently under review for publication. It has been incredibly rewarding to contribute to the growing evidence supporting embedded occupational therapy in early childhood settings!
How was being the first OT student in the cohort? Did it feel inclusive? Would you encourage other OT students to participate?
Being the first occupational therapy student in the fellowship was both exciting and rewarding. Although previous cohorts primarily included social work students, I always felt welcomed and valued. The interdisciplinary environment allowed me to share the occupational therapy perspective while learning from professionals with different backgrounds and experiences.I would absolutely encourage other OT students to participate. Occupational therapy has so much to contribute to conversations about child development, family support, and community systems, and the fellowship provides a unique opportunity to build those collaborative skills while expanding your perspective beyond healthcare alone.
Anything you would want to add about the support you've received from NoCo Kids Thrive this past year?
I'm incredibly grateful for the support I've received from NoCo Kids Thrive throughout the past year. The fellowship created opportunities to connect with professionals across disciplines, attend meaningful trainings, and build relationships with others who are passionate about improving outcomes for children and families. I appreciated being welcomed as the first occupational therapy fellow and felt genuinely supported throughout the experience. It was a valuable part of my doctoral education and has further strengthened my commitment to working in early childhood and early intervention.
Shannon Skjerseth and the Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Fellowship:
How did you hear about the fellowship?
My Internship Coordinator at CSU in my MSW hybrid program told me about it when I expressed interest in interning with Peaceful Birth Company.
What inspired you to participate?
I really love connecting with other folks in my community and who care about this special population.
Tell us a little bit about your internship--what were some of the learnings and highlights?
I loved interning with Peaceful Birth Company (PBC). I was four months postpartum when I had to start my internship, and it was really important to me to find somewhere that was sensitive to my needs and random hours and could be flexible. PBC offered all of that and more! I learned so much about the postpartum experience through my own research, doula trainings, and auditing their childbirth education class. One big highlight was the community nursery and offering hundreds of baby items for free to the community that had been donated by parents in the area.
Why would you encourage future students to participate in the fellowship?
I think the connections I made will last me through my career. I was also able to land my concentration year internship through the fellowship in a very competitive environment for students wanting to pursue clinical skills.
What are your plans post-graduation?
I am going to be seeing perinatal clients at Inner Shell Therapy!
Anything you would want to add about the support you've received from NoCo Kids Thrive this past year?
I had such a great cohort and was so happy to meet so many folks in the field of early childhood mental health. It really is a special community and we all do so much to make Larimer County what it is and where people want to live. I’m also so excited to see the passage of 1B and can’t wait to see the ripple effect it has on our families in town.
Our application for Spring 2027 Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) Fellowship is now open! Eligible applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all available spots are filled.
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