RIOS™ 1: Using the Reflective Interaction Observation Scale (RIOS) Framework for Reflective Supervision
Clock hours: 10
Format: live, virtual
Cost: $300 plus required materials
Who should sign up: people who work with young children and their families, people who receive reflective supervision or consultation for their work, people who are (or are preparing to be) reflective supervisors or consultants
Prerequisites: none
This three-week course introduces reflective supervision and its foundation in infant and early childhood mental health. It uses the Reflective Interaction Observation Scale (RIOS) as a framework. Please note, this course includes one live Zoom meeting. The instructor will schedule it at the end of the three weeks based on participants’ availability.
This was an excellent introductory class that directly applies to my daily work with families.
- Understand the principles and goals of reflective supervision
- Learn the structure of a reflective supervision session
- Describe the topics of conversation and methods of inquiry included in the RIOS framework
This course addresses the following infant mental health competencies of the Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health®:
- Law, Regulation, and Agency Policy: ethical practice
- Working With Others: building and maintaining relationships, supporting others/mentoring, collaborating, resolving conflict, empathy and compassion, consulting
- Communicating: listening, speaking, writing
- Thinking: analyzing information, solving problems, exercising sound judgment, maintaining perspective, planning and organizing
- Reflection: contemplation, self-awareness, curiosity, professional/personal development, emotional response, parallel process
Please note, if your state infant mental health association is a member of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, an application for endorsement is made through your state’s association.
Watson, C., Harris, M., Hennes, J., Harrison, M., & Meuwissen, A. (2022). RIOS™ guide for reflective supervision and consultation in the infant and early childhood field. Zero to Three.
Meet our instructors
Michelle Dineen Michelle Dineen
- Instructor
Michelle Dineen is a mental health therapist and reflective consultant south of the Twin Cities. As a therapist, she has a special interest in working with parents who have young children.
Kristin Irrer Kristin Irrer
- Instructor
Kristin Irrer, MS, IMH-E®, is an infant mental health specialist who has been working in the field of child development for over 20 years, supporting infants, young children, and their families in a variety of prevention and intervention settings.
Jolene Pearson Jolene Pearson
- Instructor
- pear0115@umn.edu
Jolene Pearson, PhD, has worked in the field of early childhood education for 40 years, including as an educator, teacher trainer, and parent educator.
This course was extremely beneficial for me as a supervisor. The skills and concepts lend themselves very well to my training in school counseling. I was immediately able to use the framework in my work with field employees as well as members of department staff. I highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to be of support to their staff in a meaningful and empowering manner.
Upcoming dates
January section
Course runs January 26 – February 16, 2026. Register by January 12.
March section
Course runs March 2 – March 23, 2026. Register by February 16.
June section
Course runs June 1 – June 22, 2026. Register by May 18.
July section
Course runs July 13 – August 3, 2026. Register by June 29, 2026.
August section
Course runs August 31 – September 21, 2026. Register by August 17, 2026.
October section
Course runs October 5 – October 26, 2026. Register by September 21, 2026. Important note: completion of RIOS 1 is a prerequisite for registering for RIOS 2. Participants in the October 2026 section of RIOS 1 will therefore not be eligible for the fall 2026 section of RIOS 2, which begins October 12.