Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor Endorsement® Requirements

• Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Education (MEd), Doctor of Education (EdD), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), or other degree specific to one’s professional focus in infant mental health; university certificate program; and/or course work in areas such as infant development (prenatal up to 36 months), familycentered practice, cultural sensitivity, family relationships and dynamics, assessment, and intervention must be submitted in accordance with the Competency Guidelines®
• Unofficial transcripts from all degrees and from any college credits earned are required.

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

Minimum 3-years of practice leader experience relevant to the young child-family field. Some examples are:

• 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, child care rating schemes
• Work to address reimbursement issues for IECMH services
• Serve in a leadership role or as an active committee member in local/state IECMH 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 IECMH association

Minimum 3-years of practice leader experience relevant to the young child-family field. Some examples are:

• 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 rating improvement systems and child care 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

Minimum 3-years of practice leader experience relevant to the young child-family field. Some examples are:

• 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 IMH-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 IECMH association

Applicants will include as many hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education as necessary to document that competencies (as specified in Competency Guidelines) have been met.  

• Training content will include the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship/based principles of IECMH
• Minimum 30 clock hours required; of those hours, a minimum of 15 hours must be didactic training about reflective supervision/consultation 

*Beginning January 1, 2024, ECMHM-C applicants will be required to list a minimum of 48 hours of training.  Of those hours, a minimum of 30 hours of in-service training will be specific to IECMH, 15 hours about RSC, PLUS 3 hours specific to diversity, equity and inclusion in IECMH

Applicants will include as many hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education as necessary to document that competencies (as specified in Competency Guidelines) have been met.  

• Training received will include the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship-based principles and practices of IECMH
• Minimum 30 clock hours required 

*Beginning January 1, 2024, ECMHM-P applicants will be required to list a minimum of 33 hours of training.  Of those hours, a minimum of 30 hours of in-service training will be specific to IECMH PLUS 3 hours specific to diversity, equity and inclusion in IECMH

Applicants will include as many hours of relationship-based training and/or continuing education as necessary to document that competencies (as specified in Competency Guidelines) have been met.  

• Training received will include the promotion of social-emotional development and the relationship-based principles and practices of IECMH
• Minimum 30 clock hours required 

*Beginning January 1, 2024, ECMHM-R/F applicants will be required to list a minimum of 33 hours of training.  Of those hours, a minimum of 30 hours of in-service training will be specific to IECMH PLUS 3 hours specific to diversity, equity and inclusion in IECMH

At minimum 50 clock hours received of relationship-focused, reflective supervision/consultation (RSC), individually or in a group, from a qualified RSC provider.  Clock hours must come post-masters, and while providing ECMHS services to infants, young children (3-6 years), and their families. Of the 50 total RSC hours, at minimum 25 clock hours received must be about the RSC the applicant provides to others who are providing services to young children (3-6 years) and their families.   

Qualified RSC providers must meet Endorsement requirements as an IMHM-C or ECMHM-C.

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

1. One from current program supervisor
2. One from reflective supervision/consultation provider
3. One from person receiving RSC from the applicant

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

1. One from current program supervisor
2. One from reflective supervision/consultation provider, If not applicable, applicant may ask a colleague
3. If no one available from first two categories, candidate may ask three colleagues

Total of three professional reference ratings from:

1. One from current department supervisor or chair if they are familiar with IMH. If not, applicant may ask a colleague
2. One from reflective supervision/consultation provider, if applicable. If not applicable, applicant may ask a colleague
3. One from a student taught and/or supervised by the applicant

• Application will document that requirements and competencies have been adequately met through specialize education, in-service training, work, and for Clinical applicants, through reflective supervision/consultation experiences.
• Successful completion of the CT-AIMH written examination

Minimum of 15 clock hours per year of relationship-based education and training, pertaining to the promotion of social-emotional development in the context of family and other caregiving relationships, of 0-6 year olds, including the principles and practices of infant/early childhood mental health (eg, regional training, related course work at colleges or universities, infant mental health conference attendance, participation in competency-based activities such as professional reading group, community of practice, mentorship group).

• One of the 15 hours is required to be specific to diversity, equity and inclusion in IECMH
• Providers of RSC are required to submit 3 hours of training on RSC as part of the 15-hour minimum requirement. 

Documentation of training hours is submitted annually with membership renewal via EASy