Build the consultant workforce
This shelf helps anyone who staffs consultation in a single program or a state system. It holds role definitions, hiring guidance, MOUs, and the workforce landscape.
What's in this collection
This section explores the competencies, training, supervision, mentoring, and quality assurance systems needed to build a strong IECMHC workforce and deliver high-quality IECMHC services.
Workforce development planning
Program Planning and Reflection Tool (PPRT): This program-level online assessment tool helps users evaluate progress in key IECMHC program implementation areas while providing guidance on how to put these elements into place. An entire domain is devoted to workforce and covers: recruiting & hiring, initial training, ongoing professional development, clinical/reflective supervision, service delivery support, and workforce retention.
Recruiting and hiring IECMH consultants
Hiring Guidance: This e-learning module is designed to support IECMHC program managers in the hiring process of IECMH consultants.
Training curriculum guidance
Curriculum Guidelines for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation: Building on the CoE’s IECMHC Competencies, this resource helps programs create comprehensive training standards and content to develop a strong IECMH consultant workforce.
Cultural and Linguistic Competence Self-Assessment Checklists: These tools are designed to assist managers and administrators in assessing the extent to which they demonstrate integration of cultural and linguistic competence into values, attitudes, communication styles, and the physical environment.
Professional development resources
Foundational Modules: These eight modules are designed to support Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants in their professional development, and can be viewed in any order.
Beyond the 101: IECMHC Lessons: This trio of online learning modules explores best practice in IECMHC with regard to equity, supporting infants and toddlers, and working with families in a meaningful and effective way.
Materials for field use
Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior: This resource is designed for use by teachers and offers easily accessible ideas and materials to support children in the classroom and other learning environments.
Consultant supervision, support, and retention
Sustaining IECMH Consultants in their Jobs: Once a mental health professional has been successfully recruited and trained to provide IECMHC services, a management team’s priority becomes retaining that now well-trained consultant.
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GuideInfant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Workforce Development Plan OverviewThis resource outlines key considerations for building a skilled workforce of Mental Health Consultants. In addition to providing a summary of recommended MHC qualifications and competencies, this resource presents guidance on five domains for workforce development: orientation, service delivery, skill building, ongoing training, and reflective supervision. HandoutInformation Sheet: A Collection of Tips on Becoming a Reflective SuperviseeA collection of tips on becoming a reflective supervisee. HandoutInformation Sheet: A Collection of Tips on Becoming a Reflective SupervisorA collection of tips on becoming a reflective supervisor. TemplateJOB DESCRIPTION: Early Intervention Program Mental Health Specialist TemplateKeeping a Stress LogA template for logging stressful events and how you responded, then reviewing the log to find your strengths, challenges, and next steps. GuideMaryland Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Support Services Program: Practice Standards & Recommendations ReportMaryland’s infant and early childhood mental health consultation equity efforts Webinars and eventsMeeting Colorado Families and Early Childhood Professionals where they areColorado offers ECMH Consultation services anywhere children age birth to 6 years learn and grow, including elementary schools, home visitation, child welfare, public health, health care, home settings, and more. This presentation will discuss how consultation has been expanded and successfully implemented in settings outside childcare. Two settings with established programs will discuss how the need for early childhood mental health consultation was determined and what programming resulted from those needs. Featured programs include Enhanced Home Visiting and Warm Connections which offers mental health consultation at Woman, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics. The demographics of the families and professionals served will be highlighted along with how each program has incorporated practices and policies that are culturally and linguistically responsive. Programs will also address the workforce providing the consultation: how they were recruited and trained. Programs will also discuss their components, barriers, and opportunities. Finally, evaluation results and learnings will be shared which highlight program future directions. BriefMental Health in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation: Why Mental Health Training is Essential to IECMH ConsultantsThis brief provides an overview of important mental health concepts and psychological processes that IECMH consultants employ to understand, support, and build capacity in consultees. Webinars and eventsOne Child At a Time: The Path to Equity in FloridaSpeakers of this session will share the experiences of a grass roots approach to fund the only infant and early childhood mental health consultation programing in their community. The presentation is targeted to professionals who do not have funding or support for consultation services in their state or community, are launching new programs, or those who are looking at how other programs are advancing equity in their agencies. As Florida legislators have failed to recognize the IECMHC model as a viable funding option and direct dollars elsewhere, it is up to service delivery professionals to take action locally and find ways to educate, promote and fund services. This session will share the steps taken to increase equity and decrease disparities through the consultation model in preschool homes and centers, despite the major hurdles to success. Presenters will share their steps to building a workforce, creating local acceptance of the concept and potential outcomes, and finally accessing major funding to start two new consultation programs. Participants can expect to hear about potential new ways to educate their community on the benefits and outcomes of the IECMHC model, identify ways to infuse equity into IECMHC programming, and how to promote the model as a major contributor to equity changes and initiatives in their own communities. BriefPivoting in a Pandemic: Stories from the Field and Lessons LearnedInformed by elements of the consultative stance, Pivoting in a Pandemic: Stories from the Field and Lessons Learned presents examples of ways that IECMH consultation has required adaptation as a result of COVID-19 GuideProfessional Development Framework for Promoting Anti-bias ConsultationThis resource is designed to support reflective supervisors, as well as professional development and technical assistance providers, in creating professional development opportunities that take place within a learning community (ex., CoPs, ECHOS, and workgroups). This framework goes beyond surface-level content by challenging participants’ assumptions, addressing difficult topics, and providing opportunities for practice and reflection.