Ms. Andrea G. Oliveira is a clinical psychologist by training with 15 years of experience working with children and families both in Portugal and in the United States. Currently, she leads Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Policy and Initiatives at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.
Under her leadership, she has focused on promoting IECMH awareness across all sectors, educating stakeholders on IECMH policies and bringing public and private partners to the table, by breaking down silos, and focusing on common goals that will promote well-being for children under 6 and their families. She has prioritized investment in workforce development initiatives, including Reflective Supervision to non-clinical professionals and enhancing early relational health competencies to a diverse group of professionals. As a Certified DC: 0-5 Trainer, she has co-led the expansion of DC: 0-5 training statewide, as well as the task force that developed the MA DC: 0-5 Crosswalk.
Ms. Oliveira began her career working in both community and pediatric health settings. Trained in Newborn Behavioral Observation and certified as an Infant Massage Educator and Circle of Security Parent Educator, her focus has always been on working with and for the youngest children and their caregivers and making a positive impact from the start.
Ms. Oliveira has a Masters in Clinical and Health Psychology from the University of Lisbon in Portugal and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Infant-Parent Mental Health from the University of Massachusetts – Boston. She is endorsed as an ECMH Specialist® and as an IMH Mentor-Policy®. All her work is grounded on IECMH principles – focus on building relationships, being reflective, working collaboratively, all while keeping the baby at the center and always in mind. She believes in the power of early relational health as a framework that can change the world.
