Nurturing the Seed (NTS): Indigenous-led Model for Developmental Screening and Support: Fall 2026

Registration Closes: Friday, October 16, 2026

Nurturing the Seed - Training Program Overview

This training features the Nurturing the Seed developmental screening and support model, co-developed with Indigenous Elders and practitioners from across Canada. Focused on the mental health of children birth to six, the NTS model offers insight into practices to support infant and early mental health using promotion, prevention, and early intervention strategies. The model utilizes the science of infant and early mental health, Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQs), and Developmental Support Plans (DSPs). Informed by Indigenous culture, history and beliefs through this training, this model utilizes a user-friendly web-based application to create family friendly developmental support plans using a strength-based and culturally responsive ways.

In this training, participants will:

• Gain a better understanding of developmental screening and its benefits in supporting children's development.
• Understand, facilitate, score, and interpret the Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3rd edition and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional 2nd edition.
• Gain a better understanding of developmental support plans and the benefits in supporting children's development with concrete strategies.
• Implement the knowledge of infant and mental health and developmental screening into their practice and how they support families of young children.
• Make the appropriate decisions to support a child's development.

Pre-work

• An Introduction to the Foundations of Infant and Early Mental Health is required to enroll in this training. This course is self-paced and takes ~2 hours to complete. If you have already completed An Introduction to the Foundations of Infant and Early Mental Health than no action is required.
• Learner Acknowledgment: You are required to certify you have reviewed and understand the Learner Acknowledgment that outlines the expectations of the training. Return to the 'Your progress' tab and scroll down to the tile entitled 'Learner Acknowledgment'. The acknowledgment will open in a new tab as a pdf. Please review and return to the Learning Portal tab. Click certify to compete.

1. Scroll down and select the Learner Acknowledgment
2. The agreement will open in a separate tab
3. Review the agreement
4. Return to the Learning Portal tab
5. Click the Certify Button

• Preparing for your Live virtual Sessions:

1. Click on the SUPPLEMENTARY INFO button of Day 1, Day 2, Coaching Connect Session 1, Coaching Connect Session 2 tiles to find your Zoom link and additional instructions regarding what you must do to prepare for the session.
2. Ensure you have the required materials - see the materials tab above.

Dates

Participants must attend each of the following session dates. These sessions will take place on zoom and participants are expected to be in attendance for the full session length. Please note our live virtual sessions are not recorded and failure to attend a session may result in a participants withdrawal from this training.

• Day 1: Introduction to Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Tuesday, October 20, 2026: 11:00am - 6:00pm EST
• Day 2: Introduction to Developmental Support Plans: UPDATED Tuesday, October 27, 2026: 11:00am - 6:00pm EST
• Coaching Connect Session 1: Tuesday, November 24, 2026: 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST
• Coaching Connect Session 2: Wednesday, January 20, 2027: 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST

To confirm - participants are required to attend the two coaching connect sessions in order to successfully complete the training. IEMHP will provide calendar invites for the Coaching Connect sessions and provide email reminder notifications to ensure participants attend.

Training Materials

The training materials are available via the MATERIALS tab on this module (you must be enrolled to access).

Note: the training page will close on Monday, February 1, 2027. Participants will not be able to access the reflection survey or other materials after this date. Please ensure you have downloaded any of the materials provided by IEMHP prior to this date.

A note on Implementing ASQs: A further reminder that IEMHP does not provide blank ASQ screeners following the training. Participants and/or their agencies/organizations are responsible for purchasing ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2 starter kits. IEMHP is happy to provide Canadian sources for purchasing both kits. Please reach out to iemhp.learning@sickkids.ca for more information.

Cancellation Policy

Refunds are applicable if the participant requests withdrawal from the training prior to participating in Day 1: Introduction to ASQs. If the participant does not make the request prior to the date of Day 1: Introduction to ASQs and does not attend the session, the fees still apply, and the participant will not be eligible for certification.

Questions? Please contact us at iemhp.learning@sickkids.ca