AK-AIMH ENDORSEMENT

The Competency Guidelines for Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health® (Endorsement) are internationally recognized credentials that support and recognize the development and proficiency of professionals who work with or on behalf of pregnant people, young children, birth up to 6-years old, and their families. Both the Infant Mental Health Endorsement® (IMH-E®) and the Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® (ECMH-E®) are based on a set of competencies designed to support and enhance culturally sensitive, relationship-focused practice within the framework of infant and early childhood mental health. An Endorsement applicant demonstrates the acquisition of these competencies through education, work, specialized training, and reflective supervision experiences.

Working with our youngest citizens requires specialized training and experience, and IMH-E® ensures professionals have attained a certain level of expertise with 0 – 3-year-olds and their families.  ECMH-E® assures us that professionals have achieved specific expertise with three up to 6-year-olds and their families. The beauty of these endorsements is that they are not limited to a specific discipline.  Both IMH-E® and ECMH-E® are relevant for professionals across disciplines, including early care and education, prevention and early intervention, home visitation, medicine, child welfare, mental health, policy, academia, and others.

Endorsement is available across four practice specialties spanning the continuum of care. Individuals apply for the Endorsement category that best matches their scope of practice.

Infant Mental Health Endorsement®

  • Infant Family Associate: Promotion
  • Infant Family Specialist and Infant Family Reflective Supervisor: Prevention/Early Intervention
  • Infant Mental Health Specialist: Clinical Intervention/Treatment
  • Infant Mental Health Mentor: Macro

Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®

  • Early Childhood Family Associate: Promotion
  • Early Childhood Family Specialist and Early Childhood Family Reflective Supervisor: Prevention/Early Intervention
  • Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist: Clinical Intervention/Treatment
  • Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor: Macro