RIOS™ 1: Using the RIOS™ Framework for Reflective Supervision

10 clock hours

This course uses the Reflective Interaction Observation Scale (RIOS™) as a framework. This course is a prerequisite for the online course RIOS™ 2: Advanced Reflective Supervision Using the RIOS™ Framework, intended for those currently providing or preparing to provide RSC.

Spring 2025

January section

• Course runs January 27 – February 17, 2025. Register by January 13.
• Register at the $245 early bird rate before December 16; $265 thereafter. Textbooks are an additional expense.

March section

• Course runs March 3 – 24, 2025. Register by February 17.
• Register at the $245 early bird rate before January 20; $265 thereafter. Textbooks are an additional expense.

Check payments

If your organization wishes to pay by check, please email ceedregister@umn.edu.

Required materials

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.

Learning objectives

• Gain an understanding of the principles and goals of RSC.
• Learn the structure of an RSC session.
• Learn how to describe the topics of conversation and methods of inquiry used in RSC when employing the RIOS™ framework.

Who should register

• Early childhood educators
• Special education educators and practitioners
• Social workers
• Nurses
• Pediatricians
• Home visitors
• Others working with young children ages birth to five

This was an excellent introductory class that directly applies to my daily work with families.

Course participant

What to expect

• The course is instructor-led with feedback and interactions provided.
• All activities and assignments for this course are accessed online. Most are asynchronous, meaning they can be completed at a time of day that works for you.
• The instructor will hold a real-time Zoom chat for one hour at the end of week three of the course. This is the only real-time activity in this course.
• You have access to the course site 24/7 and can fit your work on the course into your schedule.
• Activities and assignments include readings, videos, discussion board, recording videos using an online tool called FlipGrid, and reflection papers.
• You are expected to participate fully and abide by weekly submission due dates for assignments and activities.

Infant mental health endorsement competencies addressed in this course

This course addresses the following infant mental health competencies of the Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health®.

Please note, if your state infant mental health association is a member of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, application for endorsement is made through your state’s association.

• Law, Regulation, & Agency Policy – ethical practice
• Working With Others – building & maintaining relationships, supporting others/mentoring, collaborating, resolving conflict, empathy & compassion, consulting
• Communicating – listening, speaking, writing
• Thinking – analyzing information, solving problems, exercising sound judgment, maintaining perspective, planning & organizing
• Reflection – contemplation, self-awareness, curiosity, professional/personal development, emotional response, parallel process

Knowledge and competency areas

This course addresses these topics in the “knowledge and competency framework” of ACHIEVE – The Minnesota Center for Professional Development.

• Promoting social and emotional development
• Relationships with families
• Professionalism

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.

Course participant

Meet the instructors

Michelle Dineen, MSW, LICW, IMH-E® (III)

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. As a reflective consultant, she leads group reflective consultation for people in a variety of professions. This includes teams working in such fields as public health and emergency services, as well as teams working for social service agencies and crisis nurseries. 

Dineen has been working in the infant mental health field for over 15 years in a variety of positions. She has been a home visitor and a supervisor in the Healthy Family America model. She is trained in Circle of Security-Parenting. She has a Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Her MSW is from the University of Minnesota and her BA in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame. She is also endorsed through the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health – Infant and Early Childhood Division as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist. Reflective Consultation | michelle dineen

Kristin Irrer, MS, IMH-E®, Infant Mental Health Specialist 

Mrs. Irrer has been working in the field of child development for over twenty years, supporting infants, young children and their families in a variety of prevention and intervention settings. Her professional areas of interest are in expanding capacity for those in administrative roles to experience reflective supervision and exploring ways to embed RSC into systems that support infants and toddlers. In her current role she offers training and guidance to a multi-disciplinary workforce as they grow in their reflective capacities and view their work from an Infant Mental Health informed lens. Kristin provides reflective supervision/consultation to a diverse group of professionals working in the infant family field including those in child welfare, early intervention, home visiting, early childhood mental health, coaching, and administrative roles. She holds a masters degree in child development with specializations in infancy and administration from the Erikson Institute.

Cancellation Policy

• Cancellation two weeks or earlier before the start of the session: Full refund less $25 administrative fee
• Cancellation less than two weeks before the start of the session: No refund will be provided.

To cancel, email ceedregister@umn.edu.

CEED reserves the right to refuse/cancel a registration due to low enrollment, a prerequisite not completed, or other circumstances making the registration nonviable. In the event of a course cancellation, registrants have the option to receive a full refund OR to transfer the registration to the same course held in a future session. CEED will accept substitutions for attendees.