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What is Infant Mental Health
Endorsement®
And Why Should I Care?
Starting Strong ConferenceTacoma, WAAugust 5.2015
Stacey Frymier, MA, LMHC, ATR, IMH-E®(IV-C)WA-AIMH Endorsement and Training Coordinator
What is Infant Mental Health?
What is IECMH?
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) is the developing capacity of the child from birth to three to: •Experience, regulate, and express emotions; •Form close and secure interpersonal relationships; •Explore the environment and learn, all in the context of family, community, and cultural expectations. •Infant mental health is synonymous with healthy social and emotional development.
Zero to Three, the National Center on Infants
and Toddlers, 2001
IECMH Principles
Babies develop in the context of relationships
Caregiver/child attachment is the foundation for all areas of the child’s development, therefore:• IECMH work is dyadic in nature• Caregivers often explore issues from their
own lives that may be interfering with strong attachment
• Focus is on building resilience in baby, primary caregiver(s) and their relationship
IECMH Informed
• IECMH principles can be applied to any work with young children and families that promotes positive social emotional development of child
• Mental health, case work, home visiting, child care, nursing, early intervention and more!
• How might this relate to your field?
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in Washington
No agreed-upon set of competencies that crosses disciplines
All IECMH practitioners need specialized knowledge and experience to provide consistent, high-quality services
Dearth of practitioners in certain parts of the state, especially rural areas
Need for more awareness and training in the IECMH field
(“Now I know what ACEs are, but what can I do about them?”) Need for more Reflective Supervision and Consultation
Role of Washington Association for Infant Mental Health (WA-AIMH) In 2013, WA-AIMH’s Board voted to adopt a nationally-recognized Endorsement® System to help address these needsAn Executive Director was hired and funds were raised to purchase the Endorsement® System By the end of 2014, funds were raised and the Endorsement and Training Coordinator was hiredMay 2015: Endorsement® Registration opened
The Birth of a Professional System: History of Endorsement®
In the 1970s Selma
In the 1970s, Selma Fraiberg developed services in Michigan, coining the phrase, infant mental health
In 1983, the Michigan Department of Mental Health funded infant mental health services through community mental health agencies where staff training was integral to program design
Professional Competencies
By 1986, Michigan Department of Education identified core competency domains for early intervention professionals:
Theoretical FoundationsLegal/Ethical FoundationsInterpersonal/Team skillsDirect Service SkillsAdvocacy Skills
MI-AIMH Endorsement Committee
By 1997, MI-AIMH committee members completed the areas of core competency for IMH professionals by adding to the identified domains:
Systems ExpertiseThinkingReflection
A Systematic Plan for Endorsement®
By 2000, MI-AIMH called the plan an endorsement:The MI-AIMH Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health®
Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health (League of
States)
League Endorsement® #’s: 2013
STATE # ENDORSED IN PROGRESS
Michigan 545 290
Idaho 10 2
Kansas 62 48
Wisconsin 15 10
Colorado 22 2
Connecticut 18 12
Texas 87 259
Alaska 4 0
Virginia 10 0
Arizona 76 178
New Mexico 70 27
Oklahoma 23 28
Minnesota 33 50
Rhode Island 1 0
West Virginia 0 0
New Jersey 3 0
Indiana 27 0
LEAGUE TOTALS 1006 906
2012 TOTALS 878 1092
2011 TOTALS 589 958
The Endorsement - IMH-E®
A 4-level, interdisciplinary, professional development system to expand and recognize competency in the infant mental health field :
Infant Family Associate - Level I Infant Family Specialist - Level II Infant Mental Health Specialist – Level III Infant Mental Health Mentor (later expanded to
specify clinical, policy or faculty/research) – Level IV
Endorsement®: A 4-Level Plan
Infant Family Associate
Infant Family Specialist
IMH Specialist
IMH Mentor: Clinical, Faculty, or Policy
Education CDA/Associate Bachelors or Masters
Masters or Post-Graduate
Masters, Post-Graduate
Work Experience
2 yrs. in infant/family field
2 yrs. in infant/family field
2 yrs. post-masters IMH practice
3 years as IMH practice leader
In-Service Training
Minimum 30 hrs.
Minimum 30 hrs.
Minimum 30 hrs.
Minimum 30 hrs.
References 3 3 3 3
Reflective Supervision
Not required Minimum: 24 hours
Minimum: 50 hours
Clinical: Minimum 50 hours
Code of Ethics & Agreement
Signed Signed Signed Signed
Written Exam No No Yes Yes
Membership Yes Yes Yes Yes
Structure of Competency Guidelines Each of the eight domains list subcategories of knowledge
and/or skill areas: Theoretical Foundations; Law, Regulation & Agency Policy; Systems Expertise; Direct Service Skills; Working with Others; Communicating; Thinking; and Reflection
At each level, those knowledge/skill areas may be more specific to the Endorsement® category. For example: Attachment, separation, trauma, grief, & loss is
required at all levels Disorders of infancy/early childhood is not required
at Level I but is required at all others Parent-infant/very young child relationship-based
therapies & practices is required at Level III and IV-C, but not at I or II
Overview of Competencies
Theoretical Foundations
Direct Service Skills
Select others
Pregnancy & early parenthood Observation & listening Ethical practice
Infant development/behavior Screening & assessment Agency policy
Infant/family-centered practice Responding with empathy
Service delivery systems
Relationship-focused therapeutic practice
Intervention/treatment planning
Community resources
Family relationships & dynamics
Developmental guidance Building & maintaining relationships
Attachment, separation, trauma, grief, & loss
Supportive counseling Supporting others
Psychotherapeutic & behavioral theories of change
Parent/Infant relationship-based therapies & practices
Collaborating
Disorders of infancy/early childhood
Advocacy Analyzing information
Mental/behavioral disorders in adults
Life skills Exercising sound judgment
Cultural competence Safety Parallel process
Individual Benefits
Implementation of the Competency Guidelines® and Endorsement® can lead to: A “map” to guide professional development (for both individuals and programs)Access to specialized, competency-based training Access to reflective supervision/consultation A method for demonstrating a specialization in infant mental health
What it means to professionalsWhen asked how Endorsement® has changed view/perception of infant mental health:
“I have a better understanding of the importance of this work.”“[I am] well-prepared for work with families.”“I obtained more relevant training and supervision than I would have otherwise.”“The time spent preparing my application helped increase my understanding of IMH work.”“The material for the exam deepened my understanding.”“Increased my credibility.”
What professionals say about benefits of Endorsement® to families
“I think it maximizes my capacity to be fully present with them.”
“I’m a more ‘well-rounded’ clinician due to requirements for reflective supervision and continuing education.
“My knowledge/studies make me a better therapist.”
“I am a better advocate in court.” “Increased breadth of knowledge and
treatment approaches.”
System-wide Benefits
Facilitates cross-systems collaboration to provide training and RSC in order to meet the standards laid out in the Competency Guidelines®
Provides strategies to recognize the importance of workforce development for infant and family professionals
University (pre-service) programs have been designed to align with the Competency Guidelines®
Endorsement® is linked to professional development requirements and higher reimbursement rates for services in other states
Pursuing Endorsement®: Next Steps WA-AIMH website:
www.wa-aimh.org/endorsement/ Review Requirements and Competency
Guidelines to best determine which Level you qualify for
Submit Registration through the Endorsement Application System (EASy)
Complete Portfolio Application through EASy, with assistance from a WA-AIMH Advisor
Levels III and IV take written exam after Application is accepted
Additional Information
Contact Stacey Frymier WA-AIMH Endorsement and Training Coordinator at:
[email protected] Contact Nina Auerbach WA-AIMH Executive Director at:
[email protected] Michigan Association for Infant Mental
Health:www.mi-aimh.org
