Early Childhood Family Associate Endorsement® Requirements

Early Childhood Family Associate (ECFA)
Early Childhood Family Associate Requirements
Education and/or Work Experience	Any academic degree, including Bachelors, Master, Doctorate OR Official transcript/certificate from Child Development Associate (CDA) OR Official transcript from Associate’s degree (AD) in related area OR Two year of early childhood related paid work experience (include official transcripts from any college courses completed) If the requirement is met through 2-years paid work experience you do not need to upload your transcripts. If you earned a degree(s) that is relevant to the competencies and you want to receive credit for that experience, please add an entry for the degree(s) earned and upload your transcripts (unofficial) to your application If you attended coursework that is relevant to the competencies and you want to receive credit for that experience, please add an entry for the coursework and upload your transcripts (unofficial) to your application If the requirement is not met through 2-years paid work experience, meaning the requirement is met through any academic degree or CDA, you will need to upload your transcripts (unofficial) for the required degree
Training	Applicants will include as many hours as necessary to document that competencies (as specified in Competency Guidelines ®) have been met. Minimum 30 clock hours of relationship-based education and training pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of infant mental health. Typically, successful ECFA applications include an average of 40 or more hours of specialized training unless the applicant has completed coursework specific to the Competency Guidelines®
Reflective Supervision/ Consultation (RSC)	Encouraged, but not required for Early Childhood Family Associate (ECFA)
Professional Reference Ratings	Total of three ratings: One must come from a current supervisor At least one must come from an individual who is IMH or ECMH Endorsed OR is familiar with the Competency Guidelines and vetted**by CT-AIMH One can come from a colleague, or a parent/recipient of services (paid or volunteer), teacher, CDA mentor, trainer, consultant, Board member, or colleague
Code of Ethics & Endorsement® Agreement	Signed
Documentation of Competencies	Application will document that competencies have been adequately met through course work, paid and/or volunteer work experience, or in-service training. Written examination is not required for applicants seeking ECFA Endorsement®
Professional Membership	Membership in CT-AIMH or another Infant Mental Health Association

**The vetting of a reference rater who is not endorsed consists of a phone call with the Endorsement Coordinator so that they can determine if the proposed rater has a copy of the Competency Guidelines® and is familiar enough with them to rate the applicant’s knowledge and skills as defined in them. The decision to accept the vetted reference rater will be documented by the Endorsement Coordinator in the reference section of the applicant’s EASy application.

Annual Endorsement® Renewal Requirements (IFA)
Education & Training	Minimum of 15 clock hours per year of relationship-based education and training, pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development and/or the practice of infant mental health (eg, regional training, related course work at colleges or universities, infant mental health conference attendance, participation in IMH association sponsored activities such as book club, mentorship group). Documentation of training hours is submitted annually with membership renewal via EASy
Professional Membership	Annual renewal of membership in CT-AIMH or another Infant Mental Health Association
Reflective Supervision/ Consultation (RSC)	All Endorsed Professionals are encouraged to seek RSC

Early Childhood Family Associate Flyer
Early Childhood Family Associate Requirements Chart

The materials supporting the Connecticut Association for infant Mental Health (CT-AIMH) Competency Guidelines® are copyrighted by the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH). The CT-AIMH is able to make these materials available to our membership and collaborators through a licensing agreement with the MI-AIMH.

Copyright law does allow individuals to print out or make ONE copy of copyrighted material for personal, non-commercial purposes only. None of the copyrighted Endorsement® documents included here may be reproduced, displayed, distributed or otherwise used in any format, including electronically, without the express written consent of MI-AIMH. Legal action will be taken against those who violate the copyright.

Contact Us

Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health, Inc.
c/o Yale Child Study Center
Attn: Linda Isakson
230 South Frontage Road
New Haven, CT 06520
Phone: 860-786-1288
[email protected]