Infant 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), family centered 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.

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

• Organize and facilitate reflective practice groups and/or IMH study groups
• Participate in system of care planning initiatives
• Participate in planning for regional, statewide, or national IMH-specific conferences
• Represent IMH 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 IMH services
• Serve in a leadership role or as an active committee member in local/state IMH association
• Volunteer contributions that promote IMH
• Provide training on IMH principles and/or practices to local, regional, state, and/or national groups
• Teach about IMH principles and practices at a college or university
• Serve as an Endorsement ambassador, application advisor or reviewer, or exam reviewer for local/state IMH association

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

• Provide feedback to state agencies on current & proposed policies that promote IMH practices
• Provide presentations on IMH, its importance, and its role in all early childhood disciplines/systems
• Participate in planning groups promoting IMH within early childhood systems
• Participate in regional, state, and/or national-level policy making groups, representing IMH principles
• Publish policy briefs or position statements addressing IMH
• 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 IMH services
• Work to increase the preference for endorsed personnel in contracts for services
• Work to increase presence for endorsed personnel in quality rating improvement systems and child care licensing regulations
• Serve in a leadership role as an active committee member in local/state IMH association
• Participate in planning of regional, statewide, or national IMH-specific conference
• Engage in reflective consultation
• Serve as an Endorsement ambassador, application advisor or reviewer, or exam reviewer for local/state IMH association

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

• Provide leadership in higher education IMH programs
• Serve as instructor for higher education for IMH courses
• Participate in interdepartmental efforts to integrate IMH competencies into appropriate syllabi
• Participate as member of doctoral candidate’s committee when IMH-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 IMH
• Serve in a leadership role or as an active committee member in local/state IMH association
• Engage in reflective consultation
• Serve as an Endorsement ambassador, application advisor or reviewer, or exam reviewer for local/state IMH 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 IMH
• 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, IMHM-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 IMH, 15 hours about RSC, PLUS 3 hours specific to diversity, equity and inclusion in IMH

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 IMH
• Minimum 30 clock hours required 

*Beginning January 1, 2024, IMHM-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 IMH PLUS 3 hours specific to diversity, equity and inclusion in IMH

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 IMH
• Minimum 30 clock hours required 

*Beginning January 1, 2024, IMHM-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 IMH PLUS 3 hours specific to diversity, equity and inclusion in IMH

Reflective Supervision/

Consultation RSC

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 IMHS services to infants, young children (0 – 36 month), 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 infants, young children (0 to 36 months), and their families.

Qualified RSC providers must meet Endorsement requirements as an IMHM-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

Annual Endorsement® Renewal Requirements (IMHS)

Education & Training

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 prenatal up to 36 months old, including the principles and practices of infant 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 IMH
• 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

Professional Membership

Annual renewal of membership in CT-AIMH or another Infant Mental Health Association

Reflective Supervision/
Consultation (RSC)

IMHM Clinical Endorsees must receive 12 hours of RSC every year by an Endorsed® professional (IMHM-C). While not required for Policy and Research/Faculty Endorsees, CT-AIHM recommends that all infant/young child professionals seek reflective supervision or consultation (RSC)