Saturday, February 14, 2026 – 9:00am to 3:00pm
CHRISTUS Conference Center • Alamogordo
Free • Lunch Provided • CEUs/PDUs for child care providers
RSVP by February 2, 2026
Discover the foundations of infant mental health, explore socio‑emotional development and challenging behaviors, and learn key developmental goals during the first year of life. This interactive workshop offers practical tools and insights for child care providers and parents/caregivers to strengthen relationships and support healthy growth in young children.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Ashley Tauriac
Dr. Tauriac, a former resident of Alamogordo, NM, now serves as a Pediatric Doctor in Nashville, TN and has a heart for missions around the world. She is a speaker and writer on training up great leaders in the workplace. After completing residency, she worked for two years bi-vocationally — part time as a General Pediatrician and part time planning medical missions trips around the world. In Colombia, Bolivia, and India, Ashley worked as pediatrician, trip leader, and clinic manager. She also spoke on every trip, teaching local students, sharing her own story, and discussing how to achieve success in the workplace.
Rosario Dick
Rosario Dick is currently the Early Childhood Director and Pre-K Administrator/Montessori Teacher for the Mescalero Apache Tribe. She shares with us not just over 25 years of meaningful experience in early childhood education and administration, a plethora of knowledge and skills in working with children and families; but more so, an unparalleled dedication to serve. Rosario has operated in various educational capacities with the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Department of the Army Management Command, the London Montessori Centre, and various Montessori schools in the Philippines. Rosario is a board member of the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children (NMAEYC); has been an active member of the New Mexico Early Childhood Tribal Advisory Coalition (NMECTAC) since its inception in 2022; and a member of the American Psychological Association (APA). She credits the success of her professional endeavors to a strong academic foundation, including an international diploma in Montessori Education and Pedagogy, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is married to a First Nations Cree, and they have five beautiful, thriving children.
Liz Martinez, LMSW, IMH-E, IECMHC
Liz Martinez is a lifelong New Mexico resident who grew up in Roswell and now lives with her family in Albuquerque’s South Valley. She began her career in Head Start and Early Head Start with the Pueblo of Laguna Division of Early Childhood program in 2001. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the New Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health, is a Reflective Mentor for the NM SEED Initiative, is a Reflective Supervision Consultant for Home Visitors, and holds many roles within the UNM ECHO early childhood programs. Liz is an Infant Mental Health Endorsed Reflective Supervisor and completed the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Certificate program from Georgetown. She earned a Master of Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of New Mexico. Liz’s favorite past time is playing softball.
Janelle Garcia Cole, Associate Director with UNM Family Development Program
Janelle Garcia Cole has been part of the early childhood community for over 22 years. She joined the Family Development Program in May 2015 as a Training and Development Consultant and now serves as Associate Director. Janelle holds a BA in Elementary Education from New Mexico State University (NMSU) and an MA in Language, Literacy, and Socio-Cultural Studies from the University of New Mexico (UNM). Before joining UNM, she taught at Even Start Family Literacy Program for Albuquerque Public Schools. Janelle is a certified Elementary and Early Childhood teacher with a TESOL endorsement and is a Master Trainer on the New Mexico Training Registry. She is passionate about promoting equity and advocating for young children and their families, committed to improving well-being for children in New Mexico and emphasizing play as the foundation for learning. She also enjoys sharing the benefits of mindfulness, self-care, and yoga.
Tamarra Garcia, Training and Development Consultant with UNM Family Development Program
Tamarra Garcia is a Training and Development Consultant with the UNM Family Development Program, bringing over 20 years of experience working with children and families. She has served as a Head Start Teacher, Early Head Start Teacher, and Home Visitor. Tamarra holds an Associate of Arts in Child, Youth, and Family Development and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Science. She is a Certified Trauma and Resilience Specialist in Early Childhood (CTRS-EC) and is passionate about expanding trauma-informed training and knowledge across the state of New Mexico. Tamarra is also a National Child Passenger Safety Technician and is working toward her DONA International Birth Doula Certification. Born and raised in Albuquerque, Tamarra is deeply committed to community outreach, supporting New Mexico’s families, and advancing professional development for early childhood educators. She believes every child deserves equal opportunities, strong relationships, and supportive environments to foster healthy development and lifelong success.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
DATE: Saturday, February 14, 2026 (RSVP deadline Feb. 2nd)
TIME: 9:00am to 3:00pm
WHERE: CHRISTUS Conference Center, 2669 Scenic Dr., Building K, Alamogordo, NM 88310 (map)
COST: Free with lunch provided
ADDITIONAL: CEUs/PDUs for child care providers
CONTACT: For more information, reach out through our contact form.
Please register one attendee at a time. If you are registering more than one person, please reload the page after you submit the form. Each attendee will need to use a unique email address.