Laura Braafladt

Laura Braafladt has extensive experience in the field of early care and education mental health. Laura began their career in 2010 as an Infant Teacher at Bright Horizons, where they provided developmentally appropriate care for infants and collaborated with co-teachers to implement a curriculum that supported their cognitive, social, emotional, and gross motor development. Laura then became a Lead Teacher, facilitating the professional development of three teachers and overseeing classroom operations. In 2013, Laura joined LAUSD School Mental Health as an MSW Intern, counseling students and providing behavior support to improve their school engagement and conduct. Laura later interned at Families in Good Health: St. Mary Medical Center as a Welcome Baby - Macro MSW Intern, conducting interviews and needs assessments, facilitating meetings with staff, and contributing to the creation of more efficient processes. Laura then worked at Downtown Women's Center as a Medical Social Worker and Health Program Manager, before joining Allies for Every Child as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist, Assistant Director, and currently as the Director of Early Care and Education Mental Health.

Laura Braafladt earned their Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology from UCLA, where they attended from 2006 to 2010. Laura then pursued a Master's degree in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach, which they obtained from 2013 to 2015. In 2022, Laura obtained a certification as an Infant-Family Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist from the California Center for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health.