Infant Mental Health Specialists: Resources

For more information about infant mental health and early childhood mental health consultation, explore the following resources listed as Articles and Publications or by Organization/Publisher. 

• Articles and Publications
  • Integrating and adapting infant mental health principles in the training of consultants to child care. (2005). K. Johnston and C. Brinamen. Infants & Young Children, Vol. 18, No. 4 pp. 269-281.  Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, Inc. This article discusses infant mental health, how the principles of infant-parent psychotherapy have been expanded to include consultation to child care providers, and the influence on training of mental health professionals as consultants. http://journals.lww.com/iycjournal/Abstract/2005/10000/
    Integrating_and_Adapting_Infant_Mental_Health.4.aspx

• Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/ is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country.
  • Infant Toddler Training Modules address the social-emotional needs of young children. The content of the modules is consistent with evidence-based practices identified through a thorough review of the literature. http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/training_infant
  • Research Synthesis:  Infant Mental Health and Early Care and Education Providers  answers some of the most frequently asked questions that early childhood providers have about Infant Mental Health (IMH) – early social and emotional development – and the IMH system. It also provides information about where to turn for additional information for promoting IMH when children and families are experiencing challenges. http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/research
• Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation www.iecmhc.org The Center translates research in early childhood mental health development into materials tailored to the needs of mental health consultants, Head Start program administrators, Head Start staff, training and technical assistance providers and families. 
  • Tutorial 2: Defining Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and the Consultant Role provides a detailed description of early childhood mental health consultation, including how it differs from other mental health interventions, and to provide an overview of the essential roles that mental health consultants play.
  • Tutorial 3: The Effective Mental Health Consultant provides data-driven guidance on the skills, training, knowledge, and service delivery practices associated with an effective mental health consultant.
  • Tutorial 4: Mastering the Consultative Stance helps early childhood mental health consultants understand what is meant by “the consultative stance” and the practices that support its effectiveness.
  • Tutorial 5: Partnering with Families in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation provides early childhood mental health consultants with an understanding of what is meant by partnering with families within a consultative approach as well as key practices that support the building and maintenance of strong, relationship-based partnerships. 
  • Tutorial 6: Recognizing and Supporting the Social and Emotional Health of Young Children Birth to Age Five  provides a detailed understanding of the behaviors related to social and emotional health in infants and young children as well as strategies that adult’s (parent’s and other caregivers) can use to support these behaviors within every day routines in the home and within early care and education settings.
  • Tutorial 7: Recognizing and Addressing Trauma in Infants, Young Children, and their Families helps mental health providers and staff serving young children and families to understand what is meant by trauma, recognize the developmental context of trauma in early childhood, and extend their own knowledge for intervention through consultation
  • Tutorial 10: Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation helps early childhood mental health consultants understand what is meant by cultural and linguistic competence and to recognize the preparation, skills, and practices that support effective service delivery within and across diverse cultures and communities.
• ZERO TO THREE http://www.zerotothree.org/ is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.
  • Mental Health Consultation in Child Care: Transforming Relationships among Directors, Staff, and Families.  K. Johnston and C. Brineman. Washington, DC: ZERO TO THREE Press, 2006. This book describes the impact of the caregiver-child relationship on the mental health of young children, reviews current theory and offers practical suggestions for improving relationships between program directors, staff, parents, children, and mental-health consultants to assure quality care – including the components of the consultative stance. https://secure2.convio.net/zttcfn/site/Ecommerce/1961634591?VIEW_PRODUCT=true&product_id=1301&store_id=1121
  • Mental Health Consultation to Infant-Family Programs: The Early Head Start Experience, Journal of ZEROTO THREE, Vol. #24, Issue No. 6, 2004, Washington DC: ZERO TO THREE.  This issue of Zero to Three focuses on the experience of Pathways to Prevention, a year-long, intensive, supportive consultation process designed to help EHS programs build and sustain relationships, implement reflective practices, enhance services, and build capacity to meet the mental health needs of children and families. The analysis examines  the program preparation needed to use consultation well, the processes of change, community involvement, and reflective practice. http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/ZTT24-6_july_04.pdf?docID=7286