Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® Overview

Endorsement is the internationally recognized credential for culturally sensitive relationship-focused practice.

The Virginia Association for Infant Mental Health (VAIMH) is an interdisciplinary, non-profit professional organization established to nurture and promote the optimal development of infants, toddlers, young children, and families through education, relationship-based training, and advocacy efforts.

Endorsement® through VAIMH demonstrates specialization in the infant-early childhood mental health (IECMH) field. It supports and recognizes the development of professionals who work with or on behalf of pregnant people, infants, young children, and their families, and is intended to recognize experiences that lead to a competency in the rapidly expanding infant/early childhood-family field. Endorsement® is cross-sector and multidisciplinary, consisting of professionals from child and/or human development, education, nursing, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, social work, and others. Endorsement® indicates an individual's efforts to specialize in the promotion and practice of infant or early childhood mental health within his/her own chosen discipline.

History

Endorsement was developed by Michigan's Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH) in 2002 and is now used by 35 state associations of infant mental health (AIMHs) and two international associations as of January 2024. Each of those AIMHs is a member of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health.

Who should apply?

The Endorsement credential is intended for everyone who applies IECMH principles in their work across the full continuum of promotion, prevention/early intervention, clinical intervention/treatment, and macro scopes of practice.

Why apply?

Earning Endorsement® demonstrates to employers and peers that you have completed specialized education, work, in-service training, and reflective supervision/consultation experiences (as defined in Endorsement® criteria) that have led to competency in culturally sensitive, relationship-focused practice that promotes IECMH.

Endorsement® focuses on principles, best practice skills, and reflective work experiences that lead to increased confidence and credibility in supporting infants, young children, families, students, agencies, and institutions in the promotion of IECMH.

The categories of endorsement are tied to scope of practice.

Infant/Early Childhood Family Associate (IFA/ECFA): Professionals who work directly with pregnant people, infants, toddlers, young children, and their families, or within a program that supports this population in order to promote optimal social emotional development and/or early relational health. This category includes early care and education providers, administrators, case managers, child welfare staff, healthcare professionals, and more.

Infant/Early Childhood Family Specialist (IFS/ECFS): Professionals who work directly with pregnant people, infants, toddlers, young children and their families, or within a program that supports this population in order to prevent relationship disturbances or disorders of infancy/early childhood. This category includes early care and education professionals, home visitors, early intervention providers, mental health consultants, infant-toddler/young child technical assistants, childcare coaches, and more.

Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (IMHS/ECMHS): Professionals who work directly with pregnant people, infants, toddlers, young children, and their families, or within a program that supports this population, and provide treatment and/or intervention when relational disturbances or disorders of infancy and early childhood arise. This category includes infant/young child-parent psychotherapists, private practice therapists, clinical home visitors, other mental health providers, and more. Mental Health Specialists may also be providers of reflective supervision/consultation. [The Mental Health Specialist - Deborah Weatherston, Ph.D.]

Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor (IMHM/ECMHM): These are leaders in the field with many years' experience providing reflective supervision or administrative oversight within programs, teaching in higher education settings, shaping policy, and/or conducting research that addresses social emotional development, early relational health and/or the treatment of infants, toddlers, young children, and their caregivers.

a. Clinical: Leader in infant/early childhood mental health (e.g., I/EC mental health supervisor, trainer, or consultant);

b. Policy: Leader in policy and/or program administration related to the infant/young child-family field;

c. Research/Faculty: Leader in university-level teaching and/or published research related to the infant/young child-family field.

Endorsement® is meant to honor professionals who apply infant and early childhood mental health principles to their practice. It is granted through documentation and verification of the required specialized education, work, in-service training, and reflective supervision/consultation experiences. Endorsement® is not a license, but an overlay that complements one's professional license and/or other credentials.

Video: What is Endorsement?

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**Category Requirements

I/ECMH Endorsement
Category Requirements Overviews

Click on the tabs below to learn more about each endorsement category.

Family Associate (FA)

Family Specialist (FS)

Mental Health Specialist (MHS)

Mental Health Mentor - Clinical (MHM-C)
Mental Health Mentor - Policy (MHM-P)

Mental Health Mentor - Research/Faculty (MHM-R/F)

Infant & Early Childhood Family Associate (IECFA)

Promotion

This category of Endorsement® can be most appropriate for those whose work has a primary focus on promotion. Promotion services encourage and support social-emotional wellness in a multitude of ways (e.g., Early Care and Education, Administration, Case Management, Wraparound Services, Child Welfare, etc.).

Family Associates work to promote healthy growth, development, and relationships. They use their IECMH expertise to support infants/young children, caregivers, systems, and other IECMH professionals through direct service and/or macro work.

Education

Any academic degree, including Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate

Transcript from Child Development Associate (CDA)

Work Experience

Minimum of two years of infant (birth-36 months)/early childhood-related (3 up to 6-year-olds) paid work experience.

Volunteer experience may meet this criterion if it was supervised experience with women during pregnancy or with infants, toddlers, young children, and families and included specialized training (e.g., CASA, Doula, Child Life Specialist, etc.).

Leadership

N/A

Trainings

IECFA applicants are required to receive a minimum of:

30 clock hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education that meets competencies as specified in the Competency Guidelines; and
3 hours specific to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.
- Average Training Hours: Typically, successful IECFA applications include an average of 40 or more hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to the Competency Guidelines.

If an applicant holds a degree in a field that is unrelated to IECMH, more specialized in-service training may be required to meet the breadth and depth of the competencies.

Training content should focus on the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship-based principles of IECMH.

Reflective Supervision

Not required. However, VAIMH recommends that all infant/early childhood professionals seek RSC.

References

This is the last step in the Endorsement Application Process.

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

a current supervisor
a person providing RS/C to you. If not applicable, you may ask a colleague.
a colleague, parent/recipient of services (paid of volunteer), teacher, CDA mentor, or Board Member

Reference Rating Forms

IFA
ECFA

Exam

N/A

Annual Endorsement® Renewal (December)

IECFA Endorsement® is a commitment to the ongoing process dedicated to annual professional development as it relates to IECMH principles through:

VAIMH Membership Renewal: annually by December 31 (https://www.vaimh.org/membership-form)
Training/PD: 15 training hours (minimum) received per year of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of IECMH.

Minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.

VAIMH Training Resources:

Annual IECMH Conference (May)
VAIMH Professional Development: https://www.vaimh.org/vaimh-pd
VAIMH PD Archives: https://www.vaimh.org/pd-archives
Upcoming Events: https://www.vaimh.org/upcoming-events

Infant & Early Childhood Family Specialist (IECFS)

Prevention/Early Intervention

This category of Endorsement® can be most appropriate for those whose work has a primary focus on prevention/early intervention. Prevention/early intervention programs reach families that are experiencing levels of stress that may increase their infant or young child’s risk of developing social-emotional, relational, or mental health problems. For the purposes of Endorsement®, these services focus on the promotion of the primary relationships surrounding the infant or young child. Additionally, a primary focus of the services provided are the social-emotional needs of the infant or young child (e.g., Part C, Early Head Start, 0-3 Home Visiting programs such as HFA, PAT, NFP, and Mental Health Consultation).

Family Specialists work in prevention/early intervention. They work with the infant/young child and caregiver together using their IECMH expertise to assess social emotional needs, provide preventative support, and connect families to additional services.

Education

No degree required.

Work Experience

Minimum 2-years paid professional work experience providing prevention and/or early intervention services that promote IECMH.

Work experience meets this criterion as long as the applicant has:

Served a minimum of 10 families where the target of services is infants and toddlers (0-36 months)/young children (3 up to 6-years old) and
A primary focus of the services provided is the social-emotional needs of the infant and toddler/young child and their families/caregivers and
Services focus on the promotion of the relationships surrounding the infant and toddler/young child.

Leadership

N/A

Trainings

IECFS applicants are required to receive a minimum of:

30 clock hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education that meets competencies as specified in the Competency Guidelines; and
3 hours specific to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.
- Average Training Hours: Typically, successful IECFS applications include an average of 50 or more hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to the Competency Guidelines.

If an applicant holds a degree in a field that is unrelated to IECMH, more specialized in-service training may be required to meet the breadth and depth of the competencies.

Training content should focus on the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship-based principles of IECMH.

Reflective Supervision

Minimum of 24 clock hours must be received from a qualified RSC Provider (FS-ERS, MHS-ERS, or MHM-C) with a focus on relationship-based IECMH principles individually or in a group.

As in relationship-focused practice with families, RSC is most effective when it occurs in the context of a relationship that has an opportunity to develop by meeting regularly with the same supervisor/consultant over a period of time. Therefore, applicants will have received the majority of their hours from just one source with the balance coming from no more than one other source.

Peer supervision (defined as colleagues meeting together without an identified supervisor/consultant to guide the reflective process), while valuable for many experienced practitioners, does not meet the RSC criteria for Endorsement as specified in the Competency Guidelines.

IECFS applicants will receive RSC that is focused on any of the following:

Their direct service work with infants/toddlers (birth to 36 months)/young children (3 up to 6-years-old), and their caregivers/families, and/or
Their direct service mental health consultation work (birth to 36 months)/(3 up to 6-years-old), through a relational lens with a focus on social-emotional development, and/or
Providing supervision to staff who are providing services to infants, young children (birth to 36 months)/(3 up to 6-years-old), and their caregivers/families, and/or
Providing supervision to staff who are providing mental health consultation services (birth to 36 months)/(3 up to 6-years-old), through a relational lens with a focus on social-emotional development.

RSC received must have occurred while you are/were gaining the work experiences required for your category.

Approved Providers of RS/C

References

This is the last step in the Endorsement Application Process.

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

a current program supervisor
a person providing RS/C to you
another supervisor, teacher, trainer, consultant, or colleague

Reference Rating Forms

IFS
ECFS

Exam

N/A

Annual Endorsement® Renewal (December)

IECFS Endorsement® is a commitment to the ongoing process dedicated to annual professional development as it relates to IECMH principles through:

VAIMH Membership Renewal: annually by December 31. (https://www.vaimh.org/membership-form)
RS/C: 12 hours received per year (minimum) of Reflective Supervision (group or individual) from an approved RSC Provider. https://vaimh.org/reflective-supervision#approved-providers-of-rsc. *FS-ERS only: the RSC you receive should include a focus on the RSC you provide to others.
Training/PD: 15 hours (minimum) received per year of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of IECMH.

Minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.

* FS-ERS only: A minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to the provision of RSC.

VAIMH Training Resources:

Annual IECMH Conference (May)
VAIMH Professional Development: https://www.vaimh.org/vaimh-pd
VAIMH PD Archives: https://www.vaimh.org/pd-archives
Upcoming Events: https://www.vaimh.org/upcoming-events

Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) Add-On

For professionals holding Endorsement as a Family Specialist or Mental Health Specialist

This add-on was developed to recognize the work of professionals whose direct service experience doing prevention/early intervention and clinical intervention/treatment work includes their expertise of providing reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) to other IECMH professionals.

Emerging is an option for applicants who do not yet meet all of the requirements but who are well on their way. It allows these applicants to begin providing qualifying hours of RSC to endorsees and applicants while they obtain the qualifications, experience, and support to build required competence to further develop expertise. Emerging status can last a maximum of 24 months.

Education

Not applicable.

Work Experience

Not applicable. Work experience is approved in the IECFS and IECMHS application.

Leadership

Not applicable.

Trainings

Minimum 5 clock hours of training/continuing education that meets competencies as specified in the Competency Guidelines.

Emerging: 5 hours of training on the provision of RSC
Full: 15 hours of training on the provision of RSC

Training received must have been developed specifically to support providers of RSC

(vs. a more general training, or training on reflective practice).

For example: RSC Self-Study Modules

Reflective Supervision

Full:

One year of providing RSC to infant-family professionals while
Receiving 12 hours of RSC from an ERS or MHM-C provider with a focus on the RSC you provide to others. There should be a focus on the complexity of supervising others who in turn provide relationship-based services to infants, toddlers, young children, and their caregivers/families in addition to receiving RSC that is focused on their direct service work with infants, toddlers, young children, and their caregivers/families.

Emerging:

You may qualify for this status if you have not yet provided RSC to infant-family professionals for a minimum of 1 year.

References

This is the last step in the Endorsement Application Process.

Total of two professional reference ratings from:

(1) from a person providing RSC to you
(1) from a person receiving/received RSC from you

Emerging

Applicants who qualify as "Emerging" ERS will have 2 years to meet the full requirements and resubmit the ERS application to become credentialed as an Endorsed Reflective Supervisor.

Additional requirements include:

1 year of providing RSC, while
Receiving 24 hours of RSC from an ERS or MHM-C endorsee, and while
Obtaining an additional 15 hours of training on the provision of reflective supervision that was developed specifically for providers of RSC.
- A minimum of 12 hours of RSC should focus on the RSC you provide to others.
2 new references, to include one from a person you provided RSC to while in "Emerging" status

Annual Endorsement® Renewal (December)

The Endorsed Reflective Supervisor credential is an Add-On for Family Specialist and Mental Health Specialist endorsees.

Endorsement renewal requirements will be documented in the primary application (FS or MHS) and will follow all requirements outlined for each credential with the addition of:

A minimum of 3 of the 15 hours of training must focus on reflective supervision/consultation.

NOTE:

You will not need to access your ERS application following full approval for this credential. You will add renewal training and RSC hours to your FS or MHS application only.

If you qualified for Emerging ERS, you will only add training hours to your ERS application that pertain to the provision of RSC. All other trainings (general & DEI) must be entered into your FS or MHS application. (Be sure to copy any training entries placed in your ERS application over to your primary Endorsement to be counted for renewal.)

Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (IECMHS)

Clinical Intervention/Treatment

This category of Endorsement® is typically a good fit for those engaged in IECMH practice or clinical intervention/treatment. This type of work experience includes therapies and practices that are intended to explore issues related to attachment, separation, trauma, and unresolved losses as they affect the development, behavior, and care of the infant & toddler/young child. Therapies or interventions may include infant/young child-parent psychotherapists, clinical home visitors, other mental health providers, and more.

Mental Health Specialists provide treatment/clinical intervention to the infant/young child and their caregiver together when IECMH disorders exist or when a caregiver's mental or behavioral disorder affects their relationship with the infant/young child. They use their IECMH expertise to address identified social-emotional and treatment needs through direct clinical intervention. MHS professionals may provide IECMH Reflective Supervision/Consultation.

Resource: The Infant Mental Health Specialist, by Deborah J. Weatherston, Ph.D.

Education

Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Education (MEd), Doctorate in Education (EdD), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Medical Degree (MD) or other degree specific to one’s professional focus in IMH, post-graduate specialization, or university certified program in accordance with the Competency Guidelines.

Work Experience

2-years post-graduate supervised work experience providing culturally sensitive, relationship-focused IECMH services. This specialized work experience must be with both the infant/toddler (birth to 36 months)/young child (3 up to 6-years-old) and their biological, foster, or adoptive parent on behalf of the parent-infant/young child relationship.

IECMH services will include parent-infant/young child relationship-based therapies and practices and early relationship assessment and can include concrete assistance, advocacy, emotional support, and developmental guidance.

These therapies and practices are intended to explicitly address issues related to attachment, separation, trauma, and unresolved grief and loss as they affect the attachment relationship, development, behavior, and care of the infant/young child. The unresolved losses, or "ghosts," might be from adverse childhood experiences that occurred during the caregivers' own early childhood or may be related to more current circumstances for the infant/young child and family, such as a difficult labor and delivery. Strong feelings, such as grief and loss, could also be associated with diagnosis or manifestation of a chronic illness, delay, or disability.

Professionals from a variety of disciplines, not only licensed mental health professionals, may earn Endorsement if they have performed the work that meets these criteria. However, the applicant will need to have received the training necessary to provide this level of treatment/intervention AND receive reflective supervision/consultation from someone endorsed as an IECMHS or IECMHM-C about the treatment/intervention.

In some cases, one year of a supervised graduate internship with direct IECMH practice experience as described above may be counted toward the 2-years paid work experience requirement if the supervisor of the internship is an endorsed professional (IECMHS or IECMHM-C).

Leadership

N/A

Trainings

IECMHS applicants are required to receive a minimum of:

30 clock hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education that meet competencies as specified in the Competency Guidelines; and
3 hours of training specific to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.
- Average Training Hours: Typically, successful IECMHS applications include an average of 75 or more hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to the Competency Guidelines.

If an applicant holds a degree in a field that is unrelated to IECMH, more specialized in-service training may be required to meet the breadth and depth of the competencies.

Training content will include the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship-based principles of IECMH.

Reflective Supervision

IECMHS applicants are required to receive a minimum of:

50 clock hours of relationship-focused Reflective Supervision/Consultation with a qualified RSC Provider individually or in a group, post-Masters, that is focused on their direct service work with infants & toddlers/young children and their caregivers/families while
Providing services to infants & toddlers (0-36 months)/young children (3 up to 6-years old) and their families.

For individuals who provide RSC, the focus should also be on the complexity of providing supervision to others who in turn provide relationship-based services to infants & toddlers/young children, and their families.

RSC received must have occurred while you are/were gaining the work experiences required for your category.

Approved Providers of RS/C

References

This is the last step in the Endorsement Application Process.

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

(1) from a current program supervisor
(1) from a person providing RSC to you
(1) from another supervisor, teacher, trainer, consultant, or from a colleague or supervisee (if you are a supervisor)

Reference Rating Forms

IMHS
ECMHS

Exam

Yes

Annual Endorsement® Renewal (December)

IECMHS Endorsement® is a commitment to the ongoing process dedicated to annual professional development as it relates to IECMH principles through:

VAIMH Membership Renewal: annually by December 31. (https://www.vaimh.org/membership-form)
RS/C: 12 hours received per year (minimum) of Reflective Supervision (group or individual) from an approved RSC Provider. (https://vaimh.org/reflective-supervision#approved-providers-of-rsc) * MHS-ERS only: the RSC you receive should include a focus on the RSC you provide to others.
Training/PD: 15 hours (minimum) received per year of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of IECMH.

Minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.

* MHS-ERS only: Minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to the provision of RSC.

VAIMH Training Resources:

Annual IECMH Conference (May)
VAIMH Professional Development: https://www.vaimh.org/vaimh-pd
VAIMH PD Archives: https://www.vaimh.org/pd-archives
Upcoming Events: https://www.vaimh.org/upcoming-events

Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Clinical (IECMHM-C)

Leaders in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

This category of Endorsement® is for practice leaders in infant and early childhood mental health (e.g., IECMH Supervisor, Trainer, or Consultant).

Mental Health Mentor - Clinical professionals provide treatment/clinical intervention to the infant/young child and their caregiver together when IECMH disorders exist or when a caregiver's mental or behavioral disorder affects their relationship with the infant/young child. They use their IECMH expertise to address identified social-emotional and treatment needs through direct clinical intervention. MHM-C professionals are also qualified providers of IECMH Reflective Supervision/Consultation.

Education

Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Education (MEd), Doctorate in Education (EdD), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Medical Degree (MD) or other degree specific to one’s professional focus in IECMH, post-graduate specialization, or university certified program in accordance with the Competency Guidelines.

Work Experience

Meets specialized work experience criteria as specified as an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (IECMHS)* plus 3-years post-graduate experience providing IECMH reflective supervision/consultation.

*Work criteria for IECMHS: 2-years post-graduate, supervised work experiences providing culturally sensitive, relationship-focused, IECMH services. This specialized work experience must be with both the infant/toddler (birth to 36 months)/young child (3 up to 6-years-old) and their biological, foster, or adoptive parent on behalf of the parent-infant/young child relationship.

Leadership

Minimum 3-years of practice leader experience relevant to the infant/young child-family field.

Leadership activities may be demonstrated through paid and unpaid work experience.
The list below is meant to demonstrate some of the activities in which leaders might engage and is not comprehensive. Also, applicants would not need to engage in all the activities listed in order to earn Endorsement as an IECMHM.

Examples:

Organize and facilitate reflective practice groups and/or IECMH study groups.
Participate in system of care planning initiatives.
Participate in planning for regional, statewide, or national IECMH-specific conferences.
Represent IECMH interests in planning for national early childhood, social service, child welfare, behavioral health and public health conferences.
Work to increase the preference for endorsed personnel in contracts for services, childcare rating schemes.
Work to address reimbursement issues for IECMH services.
Serve in a leadership role or as an active committee member in local/state IMH association.
Volunteer contributions that promote IECMH.
Provide training on IECMH principles and/or practices to local, regional, state, and/or national groups.
Teach about IECMH principles and practices at a college or university.
Serve as an Endorsement ambassador, application advisor or reviewer, or exam reviewer for local/state IMH association.

Trainings

IECMHM-C applicants are required to receive a minimum of:

30 clock hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education that meet competencies as specified in the Competency Guidelines;
15 hours of didactic training about the provision of reflective supervision and consultation; and
3 hours of training specific to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.
- Average Training Hours: Typically, successful IECMHM applications include an average of 75-90 hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to the Competency Guidelines.

If an applicant holds a degree in a field that is unrelated to IECMH, more specialized in-service training may be required to meet the breadth and depth of the competencies.

Training content will include the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship-based principles of IECMH.

Reflective Supervision

Minimum requirements:

50 clock hours received post-Masters (individually or in a group) of relationship-focused, reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) from an Infant or Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Clinical (I/ECMHM-C) endorsee,
While providing services to infants, young children (0-3 / 3-6), and their families.
- 25 of the 50 hours received must be about the RSC the applicant provides to others who are providing services to infants, young children (0-3 / 3-6), and their families.

The RSC applicants receive will focus on:

the complexity of supervising others who provide relationship-based services to infants & toddlers/young children, and their families, and
their own direct service work with infants & toddlers/young children, and their caregivers/families.

References

This is the last step in the Endorsement Application Process.

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

(1) from a current program supervisor
(1) from a person providing RSC to you
(1) from a person receiving RSC from you

Reference Rating Forms

Exam

Yes

Annual Endorsement® Renewal (December)

IECMHM-C Endorsement® is a commitment to the ongoing process dedicated to annual professional development as it relates to IECMH principles through:

VAIMH Membership Renewal: annually by December 31. (https://www.vaimh.org/membership-form)
RS/C: 12 hours (minimum) received per year of Reflective Supervision (group or individual) from an I/ECMHM-C endorsee, and should include a focus on the RSC you provide to others (if applicable).
Training/PD: 15 hours (minimum) received per year of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of IECMH.

Minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.

Minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to the provision of RSC.

VAIMH Training Resources:

Annual IECMH Conference (May)
VAIMH Professional Development: https://www.vaimh.org/vaimh-pd
VAIMH PD Archives: https://www.vaimh.org/pd-archives
Upcoming Events: https://www.vaimh.org/upcoming-events

Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Policy (IECMHM-P)

Leaders in Policy, Advocacy, Program Design, and Program Administration

Mental Health Mentor - Policy professionals work to promote infant and early childhood-informed policy and program development. They use their IECMH expertise to support macro systems.

Education

Work Experience

3-years post-graduate experience as a leader in policy and/or program administration related to the promotion of IECMH principles and practices in the context of family and other caregiving relationships in and across systems.

Leadership

A minimum of 3-years of practice leader experience relevant to the infant, young child-family field (0 up to 36-month-olds/3 up to 6-years-old). Leadership activities may be demonstrated through paid and unpaid work experience. The list below is meant to demonstrate some of the activities in which leaders might engage and is not comprehensive. Also, applicants would not need to engage in all the activities listed in order to earn Endorsement as an IECMHM.

Examples:

Provide feedback to state agencies on current & proposed policies that promote IECMH practices.
Provide presentations on IECMH, its importance, and its role in all early childhood disciplines/systems.
Participate in planning groups promoting IECMH within early childhood systems.
Participate in regional, state, and/or national-level policy making groups, representing IECMH principles.
Publish policy briefs or position statements addressing IECMH.
Provide analysis of the impact of proposed legislation or policy on the populations served through IECMH service delivery systems.
Work to address reimbursement issues for IECMH services.
Work to increase the preference for endorsed personnel in contracts for services.
Work to increase presence for endorsed personnel in quality rating improvement systems and childcare licensing regulations.
Serve in a leadership role as an active committee member in local/state IECMH association.
Participate in planning of regional, statewide, or national IECMH-specific conference.
Engage in reflective consultation.
Serve as an Endorsement ambassador, application advisor or reviewer, or exam reviewer for local/state IECMH association.

Trainings

IECMHM-P applicants are required to receive a minimum of:

30 clock hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education that meet competencies as specified in the Competency Guidelines; and
3 hours of training specific to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.
- Average Training Hours: Typically, successful IECMHM applications include an average of 75-90 hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to the Competency Guidelines.

If an applicant holds a degree in a field that is unrelated to IECMH, more specialized in-service training may be required to meet the breadth and depth of the competencies.

Training content will include the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship-based principles of IECMH.

Reflective Supervision

Reflective Supervision/Consultation is not required for IECMHM-P applicants/endorsees. However, VAIMH recommends that all infant and early childhood professionals seek RSC.

References

This is the last step in the Endorsement Application Process.

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

(1) from a current program supervisor
(1) from a person providing RSC to you. If not applicable, a colleague may serve as a reference.
If a current program supervisor or provider of RSC is not available/applicable, the candidate may ask for references from 3 colleagues.

Reference Rating Forms

Exam

Yes

Annual Endorsement® Renewal (December)

IECMHM-P Endorsement® is a commitment to the ongoing process dedicated to annual professional development as it relates to IECMH principles through:

VAIMH Membership Renewal: annually by December 31. (https://www.vaimh.org/membership-form)
Training/PD: 15 hours (minimum) received per year of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of IECMH.

Minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.

VAIMH Training Resources:

Annual IECMH Conference (May)
VAIMH Professional Development: https://www.vaimh.org/vaimh-pd
VAIMH PD Archives: https://www.vaimh.org/pd-archives
Upcoming Events: https://www.vaimh.org/upcoming-events

Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Research/Faculty (IECMHM-R/F)

Leaders in Academic Settings

Mental Health Mentor - Research/Faculty professionals work to promote what we know in the IECMH community through research and academia. They use their IECMH expertise to inform students, professionals, programs, and systems.

Education

Work Experience

3-years post-graduate experience as a leader in university-level teaching and/or published research related to IECMH principles and practices in the context of family and other caregiving relationships.

Leadership

Examples:

Provide leadership in higher education IECMH programs.
Serve as instructor for higher education for IECMH courses.
Participate in interdepartmental efforts to integrate IECMH competencies into appropriate syllabi.
Participate as member of doctoral candidate's committee when IECMH-related topics are proposed.
Participate in planning for regional, statewide, or national IECMH-specific conferences.
Present and/or publish on topics related to the promotion or practice of IECMH.
Serve in a leadership role or as an active committee member in local/state IECMH association.
Engage in reflective consultation.
Serve as an Endorsement ambassador, application advisor or reviewer, or exam reviewer for local/state IMH association.

Trainings

IECMHM-R/F applicants are required to receive a minimum of:

30 clock hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education that meet competencies as specified in the Competency Guidelines; and
3 hours of training specific to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.
- Average Training Hours: Typically, successful IECMHM applications include an average of 75-90 hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to the Competency Guidelines.

If an applicant holds a degree in a field that is unrelated to IECMH, more specialized in-service training may be required to meet the breadth and depth of the competencies.

Training content will include the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship-based principles of IECMH.

Reflective Supervision

Reflective Supervision/Consultation is not required for IECMHM-R/F applicants/endorsees. However, VAIMH recommends that all infant and early childhood professionals seek RSC.

References

This is the last step in the Endorsement Application Process.

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

(1) from a current program supervisor or chair if they are familiar with IECMH. (If not, a colleague may be asked.)
(1) from a person providing RSC to you, if applicable. (If not applicable, a colleague may serve as a reference.)
(1) from a student taught and/or supervised by you.

Reference Rating Forms

Exam

Yes

Annual Endorsement® Renewal (December)

IECMHM-R/F Endorsement® is a commitment to the ongoing process dedicated to annual professional development as it relates to IECMH principles through:

VAIMH Membership Renewal: annually by December 31. (https://www.vaimh.org/membership-form)
Training/PD: 15 hours (minimum) received per year of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of IECMH.

Minimum of 3 of the 15 hours must pertain to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in IECMH.

VAIMH Training Resources:

Annual IECMH Conference (May)
VAIMH Professional Development: https://www.vaimh.org/vaimh-pd
VAIMH PD Archives: https://www.vaimh.org/pd-archives
Upcoming Events: https://www.vaimh.org/upcoming-events

Category Comparison Chart

Endorsed Reflective Supervisor Add-On
New in 2024

The Endorsed Reflective Supervisor credential is an "add-on" for Family Specialist (FS) and Mental Health Specialist (MHS) endorsees to document their experiences and skills in providing Reflective Supervision/Consultation.

Professionals Endorsed as FS-ERS or MHS-ERS can provide qualifying hours of RSC to any category of Endorsement except Mental Health Mentor-Clinical endorsees and applicants. (See Reflective Supervision tab, or the ERS tab above, for more information.)

Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® Overview

I/ECMH Endorsement Category Requirements Overviews

Click on the tabs below to learn more about each endorsement category.

Endorsed Reflective Supervisor Add-On New in 2024

I/ECMH Endorsement
Category Requirements Overviews

Endorsed Reflective Supervisor Add-On
New in 2024