Childhaven Expands Senior Program Leadership Team
As part of our Strategic Impact Plan expansion, Childhaven is excited to announce that Gilbert “Gil” Romero-Mewharter has joined the agency as Program Director for Therapeutic Early Learning and Capacity Building.
“My mission and journey to serve children and families is in natural alignment with Childhaven’s mission and this new role serves as a broader paint brush and canvas that allows me to help address pressing needs in our community,” said Romero- Mewharter upon joining.
Gil brings extraordinary experience and training as both a therapist and early childhood educator with a master’s degree in Special Education, and a master’s in counseling. After working as an Early Childhood Educator for over a decade, Gil spent 12 years in roles of increasing responsibility at Southwest Human Development in Arizona, which is widely recognized to be a national leader in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, and the home of the Harris Institute where Gil received advanced training in IECMH.
After an extensive national search, Jon Botten, CEO of Childhaven commented that, “In addition to exuding Childhaven’s values, Gil’s formal education, multi-disciplinary experience, and work as an IECMH consultant, trainer, and Adjunct Community College Professor made him uniquely qualified for this new position at Childhaven.” Areas under Gil’s leadership will include specialized therapeutic supports including ECLIPSE for children in childcare and preschool, and the development of our Infant Early Childhood Mental Health and workforce development hub. “Finding someone like Gil who brings such a deep sense of care for kids and families, and in particular, his commitment to BIPOC and those traditionally underrepresented, is truly an exciting opportunity and I’m thrilled to partner with him, our community partners, and the entire Program team on this expansion,” said Meg McNulty, Childhaven Chief Program Officer.
Since 1909, Childhaven has been a caring resource and partner for young children and families in the Puget Sound. Childhaven’s healing-centered framework embeds relational health, trauma-informed care, racial equity, and social justice in all places in which children and families live, learn, and play.
