Prerequisite Requirements
Membership in CT Association for Infant Mental Health or another IMH Association. You must be a member of CT-AIMH at the time you submit your preliminary application.
Training/Education as specified and related to infants, toddlers, parents, other caregivers and families.
Experience working with infants, toddlers, parents, other caregivers and families.
What is Endorsement®?
Endorselemt is a process that supports and recognizes the development of professionals who work with or on behalf of infants, toddlers, and their families. This process uses a nationally recognized set of competencies that helps define best practice and guides professional growth.
What is Endorsement®? Link to short webinar here.
Who can apply?
All professionals who have experience working with or on behalf of infants, toddlers, parents, and/or other caregivers and meet the educational, work, training, and reflective supervision/consultation requirements as specified in each category.
Why apply for the CT-AIMH Endorsement (IMH-E®)?
To grow and develop as a professional in the rapidly expanding infant and family service field.
To be recognized by employers and peers for having attained a level of competency in culturally sensitive, relationship-focused practice that promotes infant mental health.
To better support the infants, toddlers, families, students, agencies, and institutions in the promotion of infant mental health.
Endorsement Fees
Endorsement Fees
| CT-AIMH ENDORSEMENT (IMH-E® CATEGORIES OF COMPETENCY) | ||||
| Infant Family Associate (Category I) | Infant Family Specialist (Category II) | Infant Mental Health Specialist
(Category III) |
Infant Mental Health Mentor
Clinical, Policy, or Research/Faculty (Category IV) |
|
| Education | CDA or Associate’s degree or 2 years early childhood experience AND/OR
Two years in the infant, early childhood, and family field |
Masters or Bachelors degree | Masters or post-graduate degree | Masters, post-graduate, doctorate, post-doctorate |
| Work Experience | Minimum 2 years in the infant, early childhood, and family field | Minimum 2 years post Masters in the infant, early childhood, and family field | Minimum 3 years post Masters in the infant, early childhood, and family field | |
| In-service Training | Minimum 30 hours | Minimum 30 hours | Minimum 30 hours | Minimum 30 hours |
| Membership in CT-AIMH or other IMH association | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Code of Ethics | Signed | Signed | Signed | Signed |
| Endorsement Agreement |
Signed | Signed | Signed | Signed |
| Reflective Supervision or Consultation |
N/A | Minimum 24 clock hours within a one to two year time period while working with infants, toddlers, & families | Minimum 50 clock hours within a one to two year time period while working with infants, toddlers, & families | Clinical: Minimum 50 clock hours within a one to two year time period while working with infants, toddlers, & families |
| Reference Ratings | Three
(from current program supervisor, teacher, trainer, consultant, or parent/service recipient) |
Three
1. Current program supervisor, teacher, trainer or consultant. 2. Person providing reflective supervision/consultation. 3. Another supervisor, teacher, trainer or consult- ant; or a colleague. |
1. Current program supervisor, teacher, trainer or consultant.
2. Person providing reflective supervision/consultation. 3. Another supervisor, teacher, trainer or consultant; colleague; or supervisee (if applicant is a supervisor). |
Three
(Please see Category IV Requirements document for specific guidelines for who should complete reference rating forms for Clinical, Policy, and Research/Faculty applicants). |
| Written Exam | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Professional portfolio | Applicant will submit a professional portfolio that demonstrates that he/she has met both the requirements and the competencies specified in each category. Details about competencies can be found in the publication Competency Guidelines. | |||
| Endorsement Fee Schedule: | ||||
| Infant Family Associate (Category I) | Infant Family Specialist (Category II) | Infant Mental Health Specialist
(Category III) |
Infant Mental Health Mentor
Clinical, Policy, or Research/ Faculty (Category IV) |
|
| Application Fee | $15 | $15 | $25 | $25 |
| Processing Fee | $25 | $100 | $200 | $300 |
| Total | $40 | $115 | $225 | $325 |
Click here for a printer friendly document of Endorsement® Process and Fees
The steps to the CT-AIMH Endorsement (IMH-E®) process are:
Become a member of the CT-AIMH (online membership available at CT-AIMH.org)
Inquire with the Endorsement Coordinator (at [email protected])
Use the Getting Started self-study (located on the Endorsement page under the Getting Started: Endorsement Portfolio tab of this website) which will help you assess your experience and category of endorsement prior to beginning the portfolio process
Complete pre application using the EASy System, our online Endorsement Application System (Access through Endorsement tab/Portfolio dropdown page of this website or https://easy.mi-aimh.org/ctaimh)
Pay the application fee (see Portfolio page for more information on fees)
Get assigned an Endorsement Advisor, and emailed a password to access your online Portfolio
Complete your online Portfolio in EASy
Submit portfolio for review, and pay Endorsement fee (see Portfolio page for more information on fees)
Take Endorsement Exam (only for Categories III and IV Endorsement)
After your Portfolio is reviewed, and you pass the exam (Categories III and IV) your Endorsement may be finalized.
The professional portfolio includes:
Online EASy Portfolio has sections for specialized education, work, in-service training, and reflective supervision/consultation experiences Sealed official transcripts from every college/university attended
Three online references
Signed Code of Ethics
Signed Endorsement Agreement
Application Fee and Endorsement Processing Fee appropriate to the level at which the candidate is applying
Continuing Endorsement requirements:
Ongoing membership in CT-AIMH (or another IMH association)
Annual participation in 15 clock hours of culturally sensitive, relationship-focused training experiences that promote infant mental health
Suggested that you participate in ongoing Reflective Supervision/Consultation
Note: There is no yearly fee for renewal. It is only required that you maintain your membership to CT-AIMH (including yearly dues).