Early Childhood Leadership Fellow Spotlight: Shashi DeHaan

Meet Shashi DeHaan, a member of Groundwork Ohio's Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship. Through her work as a mental health therapist, Shashi is committed to expanding access to Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health services and supporting young children, families, and the professionals who serve them.

Q. Tell us about yourself and your current professional role. What kind of work do you do, and who do you serve? 

A. I am a Mental Health Therapist, with over 13 years of experience working with young children and their families. Currently, I am working in an Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatric clinic, where I provide integrated therapeutic services for children and families. When children come in to see their primary care provider (PCP), they may need some immediate mental health support. In a warm handoff, the PCP and I support the immediate mental health needs of the child to improve evidence-based access to care. Families have an opportunity to ask urgent questions. When the needs of families are addressed in a timely way, the family’s functioning improves to promote a positive developmental trajectory for your children.

Imagine a mother of a young child worrying that her child is developing a serious mental health condition because of their behavior. In a 30-minute session, I can listen and understand the mother’s concern, offer a gentle developmental perspective, inspire the hope that therapy can bring, and schedule their next session. When the mother’s mind is eased in a partnership with a therapist, the young child feels the relief too.

Q. What made you want to apply for the Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship?

A. I want to build skills to further impact Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) systems toward meeting needs in developmentally sensitive ways.

Q. What are you most excited to learn, gain, or take away from the Fellowship experience? 

A. I hope to continue to find leadership opportunities where I can impact systems change for young children and their families.

Q. How did you first hear about or get involved with Groundwork Ohio? 

A. I was previously in a leadership role where advocacy for early childhood was emphasized. I met Groundwork Ohio in that role.

Q. What’s one issue or challenge in the early childhood system that you’re passionate about addressing? 

A. I am passionate about building capacity of the IECMH workforce with an emphasis on retention. We are losing too many good people. I believe strongly in reflective supervision as a way to support the needs of young children, their families, and the providers that serve them.

Q. How does your lived experience shape the way you lead or advocate for young children and families? 

A. I have neurodivergent sons who have taught me so much about sensitivity and security.

When my smart, sweet son was young, he was struggling with a significant transition. His father and I listened to many friends who felt we should be stricter. We did not feel comfortable with that mindset, but we were desperate and worried. We soon discovered following that well-intentioned advice actually increased our problems and separated us from the loving relationship we desired with our son. We asked our PCP for help, which sparked a three year journey to get the help needed. The medical team supported my son’s treatment and thankfully, the mental health team offered meaningful support to improve the partnership between myself and my son. I was able to adjust my caregiving in a way that improved his functioning and most of all our relationship.

My son is now 24 years old, and has accomplished so much with the wise character of a fine gentleman. How we learned to accept each other and be with each other in a loving way is the greatest gift of inspiration.

Q. What do you think is important to help make Ohio the best place to be a young child? 

A. Services for young children, their families, and their providers have to align with their needs while reducing barriers and increasing access. We need to align funding and services with qualified professionals who understand the need for early relational health and non-judgmental alliances with caregivers.

Q. How do you hope to use your voice as a leader in this space—now and in the future? 

A. Opportunities to fine tune my voice in safe spaces are a must so that I can feel confident to take necessary risks.