Kathleen M. Connors, MSW, LCSW-C

Bachelor of Arts, 1983, Catholic University of America, Social Work

Master of Social Work, 1985, New York University, Social Work

Kay Connors, LCSW-C, Instructor, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Executive Director of the Taghi Modarressi Center for Infant Study, Director of the Baltimore-Nest of Early Services Transformation and the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, has over 35 years of experience as a clinical social worker working with children, families, and communities impacted trauma. Ms. Connors has provided evidence-based, mental health treatment to children and families in a variety of settings, including hospital, residential treatment, private practice and clinic, home, school-based programs.   She specializes in trauma treatment for families and children and leads projects in infant and early childhood mental health assessment and diagnosis.  Ms. Connors directs clinical and training programs, including the UMSOM’s HealthySteps site, supervises staff, and is a co-investigator in research grants, including the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study.  Ms. Connors leads innovative learning projects, including Breakthrough Series Collaboratives and Learning Collaboratives.  She is a National Child Parent Psychotherapy Trainer and directs the Maryland’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate Program and Fussy Baby Maryland. 

child traumatic stress, family therapy, infant mental health, early childhood, implementation, children's mental health, breakthrough series collaborative

Koverola, C., Murtaugh, C., Reeves, G., Connors, K., & Pappas, M.(2007). Children exposed to intra-familial violence: Predictors of Attrition and Retention in Treatment. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. 14(4), 19-42.

Rogers, K, Baumgardner, B, Connors, K, Martens, P, Kiser, LJ. (2009). Preventing Family Violence. In Compton MT (Ed.) Clinical Manual of Prevention in Mental Health. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.

Reeves, G.M., Wehring, H.J., Connors, K.M., Bussell, K., Schiffman, J., Medoff, D.R., Tsuji, T., Walker, J., Brown, A., Strobeck, D. and Clough, T., 2015. The Family Value of Information, Community Support, and Experience Study: Rationale, Design, and Methods of a “Family-Centered” Research Study. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 203(12), pp.896-900.

Kline, E., Millman, Z.B., Denenny, D., Wilson, C., Thompson, E., Demro, C., Connors, K., Bussell, K., Reeves, G. and Schiffman, J., 2016. Trauma and psychosis symptoms in a sample of help-seeking youth. Schizophrenia research, 175(1), pp.174-179.

Offermann, B., Beltran, M., Rollo, C. and Connors, K. M. (2016) Group Work with Children Impacted by Sexual Abuse. In Greif, G., & Knight, C. (Eds.). Group Work with Populations At-Risk. Oxford University Press.

Child and family traumatic stress; infant and early childhood mental health care

Honors

2009-Field Instructor of the Year Award-The National Association of Social Workers-Maryland Chapter

2018-present State Team Lead for ZERO TO THREE Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Financing Policy Learning Collaborative

2018 Nominated to serve as a member of the State Council on Child Abuse and Neglect for Maryland

2018-present Infant Mental Health Association of Maryland & D.C., member of the Board of Directors

2019-present Baltimore-Network of Early Services Transformation, National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Category III Center, Edwards, PI

2019-present Office Victim Crimes, Department of Justice, Enhancing Community Response to the Opioid Crisis:  Serving Our Youngest Crime Victims, Connors, PI

2018-present Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, Linda Chang, Thoms Ernst, PI

2018-present Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Sarah Edwards, PI