Stimulating and nurturing infants through conversation, observation or a hug, are measures that can be taken by parents to ensure the mental and emotional well-being of babies as they develop beyond infancy, according to a new book released by Wayne State University's Merrill-Palmer Institute.

The Merrill-Palmer Institute released a book entitled "Case Studies in Infant Mental Health: Risk, Resiliency, and Relationship," that features a collection of 12 case studies on infant mental health that were compiled by its Graduate Certificate Program in Infant Mental Health. The book was edited by Deborah J. Weatherston, director of Merrill Palmer's Infant Mental Health Program and Joan Shirilla, formerly of Merrill-Palmer who is now supervisor of the Parent Infant Program at The Guidance Center in Southgate.

Research for the book was funded by a grant from The Gerber Foundation to Merrill-Palmer's Infant Mental Health Program. The book was published by The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families in Washington D.C.

Merrill-Palmer's Infant Mental Health Program, established in 1989, includes an intervention service as well as an interdisciplinary training program to prepare graduate students and professionals from social work, psychology, nursing and education who wish to work with infants with special needs or at-risk for delays, dysfunction, abuse or neglect and with their families. It was the first graduate training program in infant mental health in the United States.

Weatherston, of Grosse Pointe Farms, has been with Wayne State's Merrill-Palmer Institute since 1988. She earned a master's in human development and a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary studies from Wayne State. She also earned a bachelor's in education cum laude from University of Michigan.