Recognizing Children's Strengths, Not Just Their Struggles
Deborah Hirschland, MSW, has spent over three decades working with children, parents, and teachers. A frequent presenter on early childhood issues - one who is known for her engaging style, accessible explanations, and practical approaches to intervention - she offers consultation and training to a range of early care and education programs across her home state of Massachusetts and beyond.
Deborah was on the faculty of the Boston University School of Social Work for many years, and later taught in its Postgraduate Program in Clinical Work with Children, Adolescents, and Families. Over the course of her career, she has offered workshops and presentations at a range of agencies, university-based programs, organizations, and institutes. Those include, among many others, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs of Communities United, Inc., Georgetown University’s Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, the Center for Early Childhood at the New England Home for Little Wanderers, the Center for Early Relationship Support at Jewish Family & Children's Service, the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development, Harvard Medical School’s Department of Continuing Education, the Together for Kids Project, the Connected Beginnings Training Institute, and the Center for Parents and Teachers.
In addition to her work as a child and family therapist, clinical supervisor, parent mentor, early childhood mental health consultant, and presenter, Deborah is a contributor to the Zero to Three Journal and the author of two books, When Young Children Need Help: Understanding and Addressing Emotional, Behavioral, and Developmental Challenges (Redleaf Press, 2015) and Collaborative Intervention in Early Childhood: Consulting with Parents and Teachers of 3- to 7-Year-Olds (Oxford University Press, 2008).
Deborah was on the faculty of the Boston University School of Social Work for many years, and later taught in its Postgraduate Program in Clinical Work with Children, Adolescents, and Families. Over the course of her career, she has offered workshops and presentations at a range of agencies, university-based programs, organizations, and institutes. Those include, among many others, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, the Head Start and Early Head Start Programs of Communities United, Inc., Georgetown University’s Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, the Center for Early Childhood at the New England Home for Little Wanderers, the Center for Early Relationship Support at Jewish Family & Children's Service, the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development, Harvard Medical School’s Department of Continuing Education, the Together for Kids Project, the Connected Beginnings Training Institute, and the Center for Parents and Teachers.
In addition to her work as a child and family therapist, clinical supervisor, parent mentor, early childhood mental health consultant, and presenter, Deborah is a contributor to the Zero to Three Journal and the author of two books, When Young Children Need Help: Understanding and Addressing Emotional, Behavioral, and Developmental Challenges (Redleaf Press, 2015) and Collaborative Intervention in Early Childhood: Consulting with Parents and Teachers of 3- to 7-Year-Olds (Oxford University Press, 2008).
