Endorsement involves a standardized process to determine that a professional has accumulated specialized experiences in the infant mental health field and has signed a Code of Ethics. All Endorsement applicants receive a copy of the Code of Ethics. Experiences are documented by the submission of an application that details competency-based training, specialized work experiences, and for most, reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) experiences. The application also includes submission of reference rating forms on behalf of the applicant. Endorsees as Infant Mental Health Specialist and Infant Mental Health Mentor have passed an exam that includes measures of theoretical knowledge, direct service skills, and their capacity to apply these principles into practice.

Maintaining Endorsement requires ongoing training and, ongoing RSC in the cases of the Infant Family Specialist, Infant Mental Health Specialist, and Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical categories, including those who have the Endorsed Reflective Supervisor Add-On. Endorsees are required to recommit to upholding the Code of Ethics annually. However, the ITMHCA Endorsement does not offer monitoring for ethics violations.

Endorsement is not a professional license or a certificate. ITMHCA Endorsement cannot guarantee the quality of service of any endorsed professional. ITMHCA Endorsement does not include a process by which complaints or concerns regarding ethics can be filed.

Click here for a list of members with Endorsement®.