Jennifer Oppenheim is a clinical child psychologist with more than 30 years of experience in the fields of infant and early childhood mental health, maternal mental health, and large-scale systems change efforts. She is the co-Founder and co-Director of Thriving Together, LLC, a consulting firm offering training, technical assistance, and thought partnership to support infant and early childhood mental health/early relational health.
Dr. Oppenheim started her career doing therapeutic work with children and families. She oversaw the creation and implementation of a school-based health center and mental health and social services program, and worked as a consultant designing program evaluations for child abuse prevention, home visiting, and school readiness initiatives. More recently she served for fourteen years as the Senior Advisor on Early Childhood in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Oppenheim’s work at SAMHSA included development and leadership of Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health), Indigenous Project LAUNCH, the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health grant program, and the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. Dr. Oppenheim received her undergraduate degree from Yale University, where she was awarded the Angier Prize for Excellence in Psychological Research. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Rutgers University, writing her dissertation on the topic of women and courage.
Dr. Oppenheim serves on the CHDI Board of Director’s Program, Equity, and Communications Committee and the Audit Committee.
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