Facilitating Attuned Interaction Training

parent adjusting childs coat while they stand outside in the snow on the UM campus

Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development

Children's Mental Health Learning Series Presents: Facilitating Attuned Interaction Training Opportunity

The ��ؿ� partners with the ��ؿ� Access to Pediatric Psychiatry Network to bring a virtual FAN training series to primary care and behavioral health providers treating children and adolescents with mental health care needs in ��ؿ�. Other members of interprofessional care teams involved in the spectrum of care are also welcome to register and will similarly benefit from this learning opportunity.

Registration for Cohort 2 is now full. Please join our waitlist for information on our next cohort coming soon.

What is FAN Training?

Facilitating Attuned Interactions is a relationship-based approach designed to strengthen attunement and communication between professionals and families. The FAN approach provides a structured framework for engaging with caregivers and children in ways that promote emotional regulation, trust and collaborative problem-solving. The model emphasizes five core processes: Calming, Listening, Wondering, Understanding and Responding, which help practitioners remain present and responsive in emotionally charged or complex situations.

Structure

Didactic sessions: These sessions will introduce the FAN model, its theoretical foundations and practical strategies for implementation. Participants will learn how FAN supports reflective functioning and emotional regulation in both the professional and the family.
Reflective practice sessions: These sessions will provide a space for participants to apply FAN principles to real-world scenarios, share experiences and deepen their understanding through guided reflection and peer discussion.

Application to Child and Adolescent Mental Health

The FAN approach is highly relevant to child and adolescent mental health because it:

Supports emotional regulation: Helps practitioners manage their own stress and remain attuned during challenging interactions, modeling regulation for families.
Enhances engagement: Builds trust and collaboration with caregivers, which is essential for effective mental health interventions.
Promotes reflective capacity: Encourages professionals and families to explore feelings and behaviors, fostering insight and resilience.
Integrates across settings: The FAN approach can be applied in therapy sessions, home visits, school-based interventions and multidisciplinary team meetings.

By the end of this training series, participants will be equipped with practical tools to strengthen relationships, improve communication and support mental health outcomes for children and adolescents.

Cohort Training Dates

When

Didactic Schedule: 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of the month from 8-9 am MST starting the 2^nd Thursday on March 12^th
Reflective Practice Schedule: 3^rd Thursday of each month from 8-9 am MST

Time: 8-9 a.m. MST via Zoom

Cohort Size:

Up to 30 people can register for this cohort. There is no cost associated with participation.

Session	Date
Session 1	3/12/26
Reflective Practice 1	3/19/26 (Different time - 9 am - 10 am MST.)
Session 2	3/26/26
Session 3	4/9/26
Reflective Practice 2	4/16/26
Session 4	4/23/26
Session 5	5/14/26
Reflective Practice 3	5/21/26
Session 6	5/28/26
Session 7	6/11/26
Reflective Practice 4	6/18/26
Session 8	6/25/26

When

Didactic sessions: 12-1 p.m. starting on Jan. 20 and continuing on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
Reflective practice sessions: 12-1 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Time: 12-1 p.m. MST via Zoom