The Irish Association for Infant Mental Health is very honoured to be the host country for the 18^th Congress of the World Association for Infant Mental Health, which will be held in Dublin from 15-19 July 2023. Ireland is a land renowned for its hospitality and friendship; on behalf of the Local Organising Committee, we look forward to extending you a warm welcome to this wonderful event.

Relationships and friendship across the generations are at the heart of Irish culture; our poetry, music, theatre, and the arts are among the mediums used to reflect the thoughts and feelings of our people. It was from this cultural perspective, alongside our passionate belief in the centrality of the relationships embedded in infant mental health science and practice that led us to choose the theme of Early Relationships Matter: Advancing Practice, Policy, and Research in Infant Mental Health for this 18^th WAIMH Congress.

 We invite you to participate and we will welcome your submissions. Our Congress theme is broad and intended to attract a wide range of participation from the field of infant mental health practitioners, policy makers and researchers. Infant mental health is still an emerging field of science and practice in Ireland, many countries throughout the world are also in varying stage of their development, depending on their resources. Your participation in this Congress will afford a stimulating opportunity to advance your practice, irrespective of your stage of development. It will also enable you to exchange knowledge and skills with other new, emerging, and established world leaders and professionals who are also advancing state of the art science and practice in the field of infant mental health.

Today’s children are already part of today’s society. Our infants and young children, their parents and caregivers are competing with a myriad of changes in an ever evolving and diverse world which can offer either a sturdy or fragile start to this pivotal stage of early development. In keeping with these events, the Program Committee has increased the breadth of Abstract Submission topics to reflect the many changes emerging in the field of infant mental health. Our WAIMH Congress invites you to share your field of practice; your contributions will provide a much-needed voice and attention to the advancement of infant and early childhood mental health and wellbeing across the globe. You will also be afforded a unique opportunity to experience the warmth and support of the WAIMH community alongside the experience of in-person participation in a world class programme of presentations. At the end of the day, our social programme and the added local entertainment events in Dublin’s beautiful city will provide opportunity to rest and relax with new and old friends.

We await your Abstract submission, please stay connected with the Congress website for announcements. We also look forward to extending you a warm Irish welcome to what we believe will be an exceptional and stimulating WAIMH Dublin Congress.

Catherine Maguire                                     Audrey Lonergan
Co-Chair, Local Organising Committee             Co- Chair, Local Organising Committee