Supporting Multisector Infant–Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Professional Development

Infant–early childhood mental health (IECMH) professional development is recommended for early intervention and early childhood special education (ECSE) professionals to support their relationship-based work with families and enhance their efforts to promote social–emotional development. As a result, access to evidence-based, comprehensive, competency-based IECMH training that supports infant–early childhood professional knowledge and practice is a priority. The Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health designed and implemented the Foundation for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused IECMH Practice Training Series: Core Curriculum to address this need for Part C providers, ECSE professionals, Early Head Start/Head Start staff, and IECMH home visiting therapists. A mixed methods evaluation of three cohorts ( N = 53), representing these diverse infant–early childhood professional roles suggests that the Core Curriculum can increase professionals’ self-reported use of IECMH practices and reflective practice confidence as well as enhance their work. Evidence also suggests the training may have increased impacts for cohorts limited to early interventionists and ECSE professionals, particularly those with no previous IECMH training or reflective supervision experience. The Core Curriculum is unique in its comprehensive, competency-based content, interactive design, multi-sector relevance, evaluated impact on IECMH practice and knowledge, and accessible implementation.