What is Infant Mental Health

Endorsement®

And Why Should I Care?

infant and early childhood conferenceTacoma, WAMay 7.2015

Stacey Frymier, MA, LMHC, ATR, IMH-E®(IV-C)WA-AIMH Endorsement and Training Coordinator

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®

League of States (Alliance)

AK

MNWI MI

INCT

VA

KS

OK

CO

NM

TX

AZ

ID

NJWV

RI

IA

OR

NY

League Member

Pursuing/Pending

Membership

WA

HI

ARMA

League of States

W. Australia

PA

Agency Partners

FL

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:stacey@wa-aimh.org

Contact Nina Auerbach WA-AIMH Executive Director at:

nina@wa-aimh.org Michigan Association for Infant Mental

Health:www.mi-aimh.org