Highlights from the 2025 Mentor Meeting

Moving the Needle:

An Integrated Multi-Level System of Delivering Incredible Years Programs

21^st Mentor Meeting, 

Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, California

What a week! Our 21^st Mentor Meeting was bursting with inspiration, energy and creativity. We were treated to presentations from mentors and coaches from Lithuania, Finland, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and US. Each shared unique ways they are adapting, expanding and stitching together the Incredible Years Programs to fit their families and communities.

Even more exciting was seeing how many disciplines are now part of a movement ~ pediatricians, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, social workers, and psychologists ~ were all weaving their expertise into a common evidence-based quilt. The energy in the room was contagious! We brainstormed ways to stretch our reach, meet new challenges, learn from one another and spark fresh opportunities. Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient fabric of support for children, families, teachers and communities worldwide.

Moving the Needle Forward with More Mentors and Coaches

⭐ Congratulations to Lucy Gregory (New Zealand) who is now an accredited Mentor in the Autism Parent and Basic Parent programs! 

⭐ Welcome to Cassandra Borlase (New Zealand), who is beginning the mentor-in-training progression for Basic Parenting! 

⭐ Congratulations to three newly certified peer coaches who are also mentors-in-training: Päivi Lindberg (Finland); Jayne Snare (Wales), and Annemarie ÓMurchú (Ireland). 

⭐ Cheers to group leaders who are beginning their Peer Coaching journey, who joined us at this year's meeting: Indrė Steponavičiūtė Kupčinskė (Lithuania), and Carina Vecchi & Heather Hall (USA).  

Presentation by Carolyn Webster-Stratton: Moving the Needle

Presentations

Day 1, Wednesday

Joyce Javier, MD shared her groundbreaking work with Filipino families using the IY Baby Parent program and blended Basic/Advanced Parent programs for school age parents programs to boost family well-being. 

Presentation by Joyce Javier: Together We Thrive

Sean McDonnell and Annemarie Ó Murchú from Ireland walked us through The Changing Lives Initiative, impacting over 2000 parents of children with ADHD, ages 3-7 years. They delivered the IY Basic program in 18-20 sessions. Pre-post improvements included improved family functioning, reductions in parent stress and negative parent-child interactions. Following their first in-person delivery evaluation they began online delivery in 2020 due to Covid. So far 16 groups have been delivered. Results look promising and evaluation continues. 

Presentation by Sean McDonnell and Annemarie Ó Murchú: IY Delivery in Ireland - The Changing Lives Initiative

Nina Simola and Päivi Lindberg, Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Finland, showed progress from 2021-25 implementation with the Basic Parenting Program and Teacher Classroom Management (TCM) Program. Follow up data is being collected 6, 12 and 24 months after parent groups are completed.

Presentation by Nina Simola and Päivi Lindberg: Incredible Years Research in Finland

Carolyn & Freddy Feelings (yes, he came along from Seattle!) sparked conversations on “Stitching Innovation with Fidelity” by sharing aspects of the new 2.0 program each afternoon. This was followed by lively coaching and video coaching in small groups.

Day 2, Thursday

Dean Coffey put together a multidisciplinary team including 2 pediatricians and 2 OT professionals who blew us away with their creative approaches to boosting children’s language development and ways they deliver the IY programs with fidelity and support parents.

Panel Discussion by Dean Coffey:  Adding Value: Promoting Multi-disciplinary Dissemination of IY Parent Programs with Fidelity

Indrė Steponavičiūtė-Kupčinskė (Lithuania) showed us results of dissemination work with on-line delivery of the Basic Parent Program in Lithuania.

Presentation by Indrė Steponavičiūtė-Kupčinskė: The IY Program in Lithuania

Carolyn and Kathleen Corrigan presented the benefits and barriers of on-line versus in-person training. Carolyn reviewed research comparing on-line and in-person evaluations of IY group leader training with over 8000 participants.

Presentation by Carolyn Webster-Stratton: Comparing On-Line & In-Person IY Training

Day 3, Friday

Micah Orliss presented a panel of groups leaders who demonstrated their vibrant puppet use and unique applications of delivery of parent, teacher and child IY programs. (Thank you Wally and friends!). Our puppet friends helped us understand how they learned to manage their issues with anxiety, hearing loss and ADHD.

Marie-Josée Letarte (Québec) presented her amazing research, carried out over 10 years, in order to improve parenting practice to strengthen school readiness for high-risk children. This impressive RCT study is currently being analyzed submitted for publication.

Presentation by Marie-Josée Letarte: Strengthening School Readiness through the IY Basic Parent Program

Lee Taylor Burt and Sheila Russell (New Zealand) presented their approach to promoting accreditation and fidelity training by means of their Fidelity Days for the TCM, IB and Teacher Autism group leaders.

Presentation by Lee Taylor Burt & Sheila Russell: IY Training and Accreditation in New Zealand

We wrapped up with a festive Mexican dinner at Dean Coffey’s house, celebrating the spirit of collaboration and global friendship.

A Warm Thank You

Deep thanks for our hosts at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, mentors Dean Coffey and Micah Orliss, for welcoming us so generously. Gratitude to Kathleen Corrigan and Emily Haranin for tech wizardry, snacks preparation and steady support. Yes we had enough cookies, laughed and learned.

As you know Emily started work in her Clinical Director role September 2nd and I am so enthusiastic about working with her. We are lucky to have her.

We missed those who couldn’t join us, but felt your spirit in the room. It is an honor to see so many of you carrying Incredible Years Programs into new communities, cultures, and disciplines with such care and passion.

With appreciation and joy & some magic (yes, I had my wand!),

Carolyn