Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, part of Georgetown University’s Thrive Center

IECMHC in Early Care and Education

The child isn't the problem. The adults in the room are the answer, and consultation builds their skills.

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What consultation is in early care and education

Consultation pairs a mental health consultant with the adults around a child. The consultant spends time in the classroom and helps adults understand what a child's behavior is telling them. The consultant also supports staff through the stress of the work.

  • Who the consultant works with

    Consultants work with teachers, directors and families through observation, regular meetings, staff training and conversations with parents.

  • What changes

    Teachers ask what a child's behavior is communicating before they respond. They feel more capable with the children who challenge them most.

  • Where it fits

    Consultation runs in child care centers, family child care homes, Head Start and state pre-K. It works alongside the Pyramid Model and other behavior frameworks.

It works at three levels

  • Child and family

    A teacher brings the consultant a concern about one child. Together they observe the child, talk with the family and agree on a plan that the teacher and the parents both use.

  • Teacher and classroom

    The consultant watches how the whole classroom runs and works with the teacher on the routines, relationships and climate that shape every child's day.

  • Director and program

    The consultant helps directors look at the policies and practices that affect everyone. That includes how the program responds to behavior and how it supports its staff.

What's the difference between consultation and Pyramid Model coaching?

Both promote young children's social and emotional development.

  • Pyramid Model coach

    Brings
    A set of Pyramid Model practices
    Focus
    Using those practices with fidelity
    Looks for
    The function behind a behavior

  • IECMH consultant

    Brings
    Clinical skills and mental health training
    Focus
    The needs of each child, caregiver and program
    Looks for
    Signs of trauma, anxiety or attachment issues

Better together

Consultants often use Pyramid Model tools. A program that runs both gives its teachers one set of practices and someone to think them through with.

Read how they fit together

What the evidence says about its impact

A 2023 review(opens in a new tab) of a decade of studies found the same results as the reviews before it.

87%
of completed consultation cycles in New York ended with better scores on a classroom quality observationNew York State OCFS, 2026 for 87%, of completed consultation cycles in New York ended with better scores on a classroom quality observation (opens in a new tab)
12 of 13
studies found fewer teacher-reported acting-out behaviorsPerry et al., 2010, Early Education and Development for 12 of 13, studies found fewer teacher-reported acting-out behaviors (opens in a new tab)
5 of 6
studies linked consultation to lower staff turnoverBrennan et al., 2008, Early Education and Development for 5 of 6, studies linked consultation to lower staff turnover (opens in a new tab)

See it in practice

Plan and pay for it

Bring it to your early care and education program

You don't need a funded position to bring consultation into your program.

Three ways in

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