Getting Started on Endorsement

Hooray, you want to be Infant Mental Health Endorsed (IMH-E®)!

This self-study form will help you determine what you have done and what additional specialized training and reflective supervision or consultation might be necessary to earn ITMHCA Infant Mental Health Endorsement.

1. Read all of the materials posted on the website, including the requirements for each level and the Competency Guidelines. Notice the major differences between levels in the highest educational degree attained and the number of hours received of reflective supervision.
   
   Review the Glossary of Terms to ensure you understand how the words we use are defined in the context of Infant/Toddler Mental Health.
   
   
2. Review your resume/vita, including educational coursework/transcripts, work history, specialized in-service trainings and reflective practice experiences (supervision, consultation)
   
   
3. Look at what you have done using the self-study grid below, and consider what you need to do to meet the requirements in the coming six months to two years as an Infant Family Associate (Level I), an Infant Family Specialist (Level II), an Infant Mental Health Specialist (Level III), or an Infant Mental Health Mentor (Level IV). Keep in mind that the IMH Endorsement^® is a professional career ladder, encouraging continuing professional competency and growth within the infant and family field.
   
   
4. The Infant Mental Health Competency categories are listed in grid format on the self-study form. For each of the competencies that document the endorsement level you think you qualify for (I, II, III, IV), ask yourself if you have had a college/university course, an in-service training, a work experience or a reflective supervision/consultation experience that has contributed to your knowledge or skill in one or more of the Knowledge Areas under each Competency category. For now, place a check mark in the appropriate box. Consider where your strengths lie and what you need to do to "fill in the gaps" to develop greater competency as an infant family associate, infant family specialist, infant mental health specialist or infant mental health mentor. This information may prove useful when planning your professional development plan.

   If you have any degree, hours of training in IMH related topics, but do not have direct care experience with infants/toddlers nor experience with Reflective Supervision, consider applying at Level I.

   If you have a Masters degree and are unsure about whether you should apply for endorsement as an Infant Family Specialist (Level II) or an Infant Mental Health Specialist (Level III), please also consider the following:

   1. Do you have a MINIMUM of two years post-master's specialized work experience with at least 10 dyads (infant/toddler and his/her parent/caregiver) on behalf of the caregiver-infant relationship?
      ___ yes      ___ no
      
      
   2. How many clock hours of reflective supervision/consultation have you had within a two-year time frame from someone who is either endorsed at Level III or IV or would meet criteria at Level III or IV?*
      ___ MINIMUM 24 (Level II)     ___ MINIMUM 50 (Level III)
      
      
   3. Will you feel prepared to take a three-hour written examination in the next twelve months that will reflect how well you have integrated the competencies listed in your self-study form into your work with infants, toddlers and families?
      ___ yes      ___ no
      
      

   *Please refer to Guidelines for Reflective Supervision and Consultation for additional information that we hope will be helpful to you.

   If you answered yes to these questions, and feel confident about the results of your self-study form, you should consider applying at Level III. If you are still unsure, please contact Mary Warren, ITMHCA Endorsement^® Coordinator, at [email protected].