Endorsement involves a standardized process to determine that a professional has accumulated specialized experiences in the early childhood field and has signed a Code of Ethics. An applicant’s experiences are documented by the submission of an application that details competency-based training, specialized work experiences, and for most, reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) experiences. The application also includes transcripts (if applicable) and three reference ratings. Endorsees as Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists (ECMHS) and Early Childhood Mental Health Mentors (ECMHM) have passed an exam that includes measures of theoretical knowledge, direct service skills, and their capacity to apply these principles into practice. This exam is scored by a team of two reviewers who are blind to the identity of the examinee.
To maintain Endorsement also requires ongoing training and, in the cases of Early Childhood Family Specialists (ECFS), Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists (ECMHS), and Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Clinicals (ECMHM-C), ongoing RSC. Endorsees are also required to re-commit to upholding the Code of Ethics annually, including signing an attestation that the endorsee has not been sanctioned by a licensing board.
Endorsement is not a professional license or a certificate. VAIMH Endorsement cannot guarantee the quality of service of any endorsed professional. VAIMH Endorsement does not include a process by which complaints or concerns regarding ethics can be filed. If VAIMH becomes aware of possible ethics violations by an endorsed professional, complainants are encouraged to, when applicable, contact the individual's professional licensing board. The VAIMH Endorsement does not offer monitoring for ethics violations, however if VAIMH learns that an endorsed professional has been sanctioned by a licensing board, the individual’s name is moved to the Inactive Endorsement Registry. Those professionals will follow the policy for reactivation to the Active Endorsement Registry once the licensing board’s sanctions have been lifted.
VAIMH's Active Early Childhood Endorsement Registry is posted below.
Please click HERE for a map of the Chapter Regions.
Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®
Leadership Cohort
In 2022, the Early Childhood Mental Health Virginia (ECMHVA) Initiative sought to implement the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® (ECMH-E) to establish, support, and promote a cohesive, interdisciplinary workforce dedicated to services for young children aged 3 up to 6-years-old and their families. Endorsement® is based on a set of competencies designed to support and enhance culturally-sensitive, relationship-focused practice in order to provide high quality services to young children and their families. Four mental health professionals were selected to participate in the ECMH-E® Leadership Cohort based on their leadership qualities, knowledge of infant and early childhood mental health, and their relationships across sectors within the infant and early childhood workforce. We congratulate and appreciate Virginia's first Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsed professionals, designated with a * beside their Endorsement date, who will support the ECMHVA Initiative and VAIMH's rollout of the ECMH Endorsement® in the summer of 2023.
Virginia's Early Childhood Mental Health Mentors (ECMHM) (2)
Leaders in the I/EC-Family Field
Credential | Last Name | First Name | Endorsement | Region | Date Endorsed | Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor | Brickey, LCSW | Jessica | ECMH-E® (Clinical) | Central | *12/16/2022 | JBrickeyLCSW@gmail.com |
Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor | Triveri, LPC | Sandra | ECMH-E® (Clinical) | Northern | *12/16/2022 | sandra_triveri@yahoo.com |
Virginia's Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists (ECMHS) (0)
Clinical Intervention/Treatment
Credential | Last Name | First Name | Endorsement | Region | Date Endorsed | Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist |
Virginia's Early Childhood Family Reflective Supervisors (ECFRS) (0)
Prevention/Early Intervention & RSC Provider
Credential | Last Name | First Name | Endorsement | Region | Date Endorsed | Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early Childhood Family Reflective Supervisor |
Virginia's Early Childhood Family Specialists (ECFS) (2)
Prevention/Early Intervention
Credential | Last Name | First Name | Endorsement | Region | Date Endorsed | Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early Childhood Family Specialist | Gardner, LCSW | Mark | ECMH-E® | Northern | *12/16/2022 | mark@nurturechildandfamily.com |
Early Childhood Family Specialist | Whitehurst, Ed.S. | Melinda | ECMH-E® | Piedmont | *9/16/2022 | mwoverlook@gmail.com |
Virginia's Early Childhood Family Associates (ECFA) (0)
Promotion
Credential | Last Name | First Name | Endorsement | Region | Date Endorsed | Email |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early Childhood Family Associate |