University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Honored with Three Champions for Children Awards
The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Mailman Center for Child Development was honored by The Children’s Trust for two standout early childhood programs and one clinician whose frontline work has improved the lives of children and families across Miami‑Dade County.
Three programs and professionals from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Mailman Center for Child Development were recently honored with Champions for Children Awards from The Children’s Trust. The awards recognize outstanding efforts to improve the health, development and well‑being of children and families across Miami‑Dade County.
This year’s honorees include two Program of the Year awards recognizing exceptional Children’s Trust–funded initiatives and one Excellence in Direct Service Award, which honors an individual whose frontline work has made a sustained and meaningful difference in the lives of children.
The Champions for Children Awards, presented annually by The Children’s Trust, highlight programs and professionals who demonstrate measurable impact, innovation and long‑term commitment to serving Miami‑Dade County’s most vulnerable populations. The Children’s Trust supports evidence‑based services focused on early childhood development, parenting support, health care access, education and family stability.
Program of the Year: Families First at the Mailman Center for Child Development
The Families First program at the Mailman Center received a Champions for Children Program of the Year award, recognizing its success in delivering parenting support that strengthens early parent‑child relationships for parents and caregivers with children ages birth to 3.
“We offer two different evidence-based parenting groups,” said Elana Mansoor, Psy.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the Miller School, director of Families First and director of training and education for the Mailman Center’s Cross-Interprofessional Collaborative. “Both are Incredible Years programs that focus on strengthening the parent-child relationship, supporting development, managing behavior and helping children build school-readiness skills.”
Families First provides structured, group‑based learning for caregivers of infants and toddlers, focusing on attachment, bonding, child development, safety and early literacy. Programs are offered in English and Spanish, both in person and virtually, and are hosted at community partner sites to reduce barriers to participation.
“All of our groups are free thanks to funding from The Children’s Trust,” Dr. Mansoor said. “We’ve been funded since 2004 and are proud to be one of their original parenting programs.”
Dr. Mansoor emphasized that the award reflects a collective effort.
“This award really belongs to our team and our collaborators,” she said. “It’s their hard work and commitment that make such a difference for the families we serve.”
Dainelys Garcia, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the Miller School and Families First co-director, added, “It’s inspiring to see how the team’s hard work and data-driven approach translate into real, meaningful outcomes for the children and families we serve.”
That team‑based approach has a lasting impact.
“Many of the families continue meeting even after the groups end,” Dr. Mansoor said. “They stay in touch with us, sending photos and sharing their successes, and it’s amazing to see how those relationships and skills continue to grow over time.
Excellence in Direct Service Award: Twala Kelly, The Dr. John T. Macdonald UM School Health Initiative
Twala Kelly, a licensed clinical social worker with the University of Miami’s School Health Initiative, received a Champions for Children Excellence in Direct Service Award, honoring more than two decades of frontline work supporting students through integrated medical and mental health services.
Kelly has a dual role, providing school‑based outreach and clinical care, including assessments, crisis intervention, care coordination and long‑term follow‑up for students facing academic, behavioral and mental health challenges.
“Success is measured in a number of different ways,” Kelly said. “Success is making it to the next moment in life. Success is getting connected to whatever services they may need.”
Her career path was influenced by an intervention early in life while she struggled to cope with her parents’ divorce.
“A nice young lady spoke to me during a difficult time and gave me hope,” Kelly said. “So, at the age of 13, I made a decision that I wanted to provide services to help other kids.”
Reflecting on the award, Kelly credited support from her supervisor, Dr. Elizabeth Pulgaron, as key to the impact of the School Health Initiative.
“Management has to be 100 percent behind whatever it is that you’re doing,” she said. “That support makes a difference. Dr. Pulgaron constantly recognizes all the behind-the-scenes work I do and decided to nominate me for this award.”
Program of the Year: Little Seals Program at the Linda Ray Intervention Center
The Little Seals Early Intervention Summer Program at the University of Miami Linda Ray Intervention Center, part of the University of Miami Department of Psychology, received a Champions for Children Program of the Year award for its exceptional, family‑centered approach to supporting infants and toddlers with developmental delays during the earliest and most critical stages of life.
Serving children 4 months to 3 years old, the program addresses each child’s unique needs through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach. Families served by the program often face challenges that extend far beyond developmental diagnoses.
In addition to early intervention, center-based services, the team provides support well beyond the school setting, helping families navigate complex systems and access resources.
For Isabel Santana Chica, M.S. Ed., the program’s executive director, the recognition reflects the power of early intervention and the importance of engaging families as partners.
“These efforts are strengthened by evidence-based programs and a staff of outstanding professionals who bring deep expertise and a commitment to quality programming to every child and family they serve,” she said. “It’s not just about working with the children. It’s about having a family‑centered approach. Research shows that early intervention does make a difference and that our efforts ensure that children and their families have the strongest possible start during the years when it matters most.”
Awards with a Mailman Center Lineage
• The FIU Parent Club, directed by Katie Hart, Ph.D., a Mailman Center clinical psychology intern from 2011-2012, received a Program of the Year Award.
• Gepsie Metellus, co-founder of Sant La, one of the Mailman Center’s major community partners, was recognized with the David Lawrence Jr. Champion for Children Award.
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Tags: Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Dainelys Garcia, Dr. Elana Mansoor, Dr. Elizabeth Pulgarón, Mailman Center for Child Development, pediatrics, School Health Initiative