|
Greetings from the Executive Director: Heidi Maderia
The Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health (CT-AIMH) creates space for and is the professional home for all infant and early childhood mental health professionals. Join childcare providers, child protective services providers, early interventionists, pediatricians, nurses, home visitors, social workers, clinicians, and others by becoming a member, joining a committee, receiving reflective consultation, keeping current on your
professional development, and becoming endorsed in
Infant or Early Childhood Mental Health.
We are so thrilled to support each of you, as you embark on your own professional journey!
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.
“Japanese Bowl”
Original Folk Song by Peter Mayer
I’m like one of those Japanese bowls
That were made long ago
I have some cracks in me
They have been filled with gold
That’s what they used back then
When they had a bowl to mend
It did not hide the cracks
It made them shine instead
So now every old scar shows
From every time I broke
And anyone’s eyes can see
I’m not what I used to be
But in a collector’s mind
All of these jagged lines
Make me more beautiful
And worth a much higher price
I’m like one of those Japanese bowls
I was made long ago
I have some cracks you can see
See how they shine of gold
May is Mental Health Month and in acknowledgment of the importance of children's mental health, I'd like to offer appreciation and recognition to each of you as you help others care for the mental health of families and their young children. Mental Health America offers suggestions for your own mental health as you care for others. Here are a few reflective prompts to consider.
| | - Instead of trying to fix or improve things, what are three things about yourself or your life that you can decide to accept exactly as they are? How does this shift your stress level?
| | - When was a time when you felt completely recharged and refreshed? What were you doing? Who were you with (or were you alone)? Are there little things about that time that you can bring into your life more often?
| | - Think of a time when someone’s kindness, courage, or optimism gave you hope… now flip it: What if you were already someone else’s sign of hope without realizing it? What do you think you did to inspire that person?
| | |
CT-AIMH
2025 Spring Conference
Registration now Open!
| | |
CT-AIMH's 2025
Training/Conference Schedule
| | |
The CT-AIMH Promotion and Education Advisory Committee is dedicated to promoting and educating across communities on the importance and impact of infant and early childhood mental health and the work of CT-AIMH.
Every third week in October, we Celebrate Babies with a week of activities and public awareness campaigns across the state.
This year we will submit a request to the Governor's Office for a proclamation that: October 20-24, 2025 will officially be
Celebrate Babies Week throughout the state of Connecticut.
We are seeking "Readers" (that are willing to read in either English or Spanish) to produce accessible videos so we can spread the word about celebrating babies in Connecticut!
If you are someone who celebrates babies, please reach out to us if you would like to be a reader of the Governor’s Proclamation of Celebrate Babies Week here in Connecticut. We will send you instructions for recording a video of yourself as you read the Governor’s Proclamation.
This video will be edited and available on our website and our CT-AIMH-sponsored social media pages to demonstrate our commitment as a state to the well-being of infants, toddlers, young children and their caregivers here in the state of Connecticut.
If you are interested in being a "Reader" for CT-AIMH's 2025 Governors Proclamation video, please contact:
Roxy Carboni at roxy.carboni@ct-aimh.org
by May 6th, 2025.
| | |
WHAT IS ENDORSEMENT?
Endorsement is an internationally recognized credential used to demonstrate specialization in the infant-early childhood mental health-informed (IECMH) field. Endorsement supports and recognizes the development of professionals who work with or on behalf of pregnant people, infants, young children, and their families. Endorsement was developed by the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health in 2002 and is now used by 36 state associations of infant mental health (AIMHs) and two international associations. Each of those AIMHs is a member of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health. Through the Alliance, Endorsement is recognized in each of those 38 AIMHs! As of December 31, 2024, over 6,800 professionals had earned Endorsement worldwide!
WHY APPLY FOR ENDORSEMENT?
Applying for Endorsement offers an opportunity to grow and develop as a professional in the rapidly expanding field of infant, young child, and family services. It provides recognition from employers and peers, validating your competency in culturally humble, relationship-focused practices that promote infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH). Moreover, it enhances your ability to support infants, young children, families, students, agencies, and institutions in fostering and advancing IECMH.
| | |
NEW ENDORSEMENT VIDEO: Voices of the Workforce
View Video
In the video, IECMH professionals discuss what becoming Endorsed means to them. The video was produced by the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health.
| | |
Heather Bonitz Moore
CT-AIMH Endorsement Coordinator
| |
Don't forget about our
IECMH-Endorsement
Open Office Hours, via ZOOM!
Heather Bonitz Moore is offering open office hours for Endorsement weekly on Tuesday’s from 4-5 pm.
The first Tuesday of the month will focus on Endorsement Orientation and Overview, the second and third Tuesdays will focus on providing support to anyone in progress for Endorsement, and the fourth Tuesday will focus on Exam preparation. All are welcome!
All open office hours will be accessed using this ZOOM link:
Zoom Link
Meeting ID for all is 6216202679
| | | |
Whats New in Endorsement?
Endorsement Renewal Requirement Tracker
This form serves as a practical and convenient tool for members to document their progress toward renewal benchmarks, ensuring you remain on track. Additionally, maintaining an updated record using this form provides a ready reference in the event of a spontaneous audit. It’s important to note that this worksheet is for members’ personal use only and does not need to be submitted to CT-AIMH.
Endorsement Renewal Requirement Tracker
| |
Endorsement Updates as of March 1, 2025:
Reference Rating Forms will no longer expire.
DEI specific language was removed from EASy, Code of Ethics, and the requirement for 3 hours of training specific to DEI within initial applications and renewal has been removed.
The language in the Code of Ethics has been updated to better align with the evolving needs of the workforce, but the core values and principles remain firmly rooted in the same commitment to respect, access, and professionalism. Previously, specific language emphasized respect for ethnicity, race, culture, individuality, and diversity, as well as a commitment to dismantling inequities through social and racial justice work. The updated Code reflects an emphasis on providing quality, accessible treatment that benefits families, treating all individuals with respect, and maintaining a commitment to ongoing personal reflection, all of which continue to uphold the principles of cultural humility and social justice in practice.
While the specific requirements have been updated, the foundational competencies outlined in the IECMH Competency Guidelines® remain unchanged. These competencies continue to emphasize the importance of family relationships and dynamics, cultural humility, ethical practice, and responding with empathy. The goal of these updates is to ensure that the process is accessible while maintaining the core values that guide our work in supporting infants, young children, and families. These adjustments are made with a commitment to strengthening our collective efforts, and we are hopeful that they will allow even more professionals to engage in meaningful, reflective practice, upholding the integrity of the competencies we all strive toward.
We are committed to supporting your professional journey through the IECMH Endorsement process. We are thrilled to announce that the Endorsed Reflective Supervisor (ERS) Endorsement® add-on requirements are being adjusted to allow for greater access. With the increased accessibility to this add-on, requirements regarding qualifying RSC are also being adjusted.
Key Details of the ERS Add-On Requirement Changes:
• ERS Prerequisites
· IECMH Endorsement in any category: ERS applicants must hold an active Endorsement is any category to apply.
· Supervision prerequisite: ERS applicants must document completion of 24 hours of reflective supervision/consultation from a qualified Endorsed provider while completing IECMH relevant work.
• Removal of “an additional” 15 hours of training to move from Emerging to Endorsed
· When the Emerging status is earned, the endorsee has two years to complete the full endorsement requirements.
Key Details to Qualifying RSC:
· For the acquisition and maintenance of Endorsement, qualifying RSC must come from a provider Endorsed with the Endorsed Reflective Supervisor add-on or as an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Clinical.
· Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Clinical endorsees can receive qualifying RSC hours from either an Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Clinical endorsee or an Endorsed professional with the ERS add-on.
| | |
Community Partner Invite & Save The Date
Wheeler Clinic (SEPI-CT Initiative or the Substance Exposed Pregnancy Initiative) in partnership with the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS), would like to personally invite you to participate as a Community Partner to our upcoming DMHAS Region 1, 2, & 3 Community Baby Showers.
As a participating Community Partner, we will provide you with a table where you can provide resources and any important information pertinent to services offered to expecting individuals, families, and new parents. You are also welcome to bring any giveaways (pens, totes, baby items, etc.) if your resources and capacity allows.
There will be several agencies represented from the DMHAS Region catchment areas. Below is a breakdown of which towns are included:
Region 1: Norwalk, Bridgeport, Stamford, Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull, and surrounding areas
Region 2: Hamden, New Haven, Middletown, Meriden, Shelton, Old Saybrook, and surrounding areas
Region 3: Norwich, New London, Mansfield, Colchester, Killingly, Stonington, and surrounding areas
Please see the event details below.
Region 3:
Date: Friday April 25th, 2025
Time: 3PM-6PM
Location: UCFS-Norwich in the Community Room
Address: 47 Town Street, Norwich CT 06360
English Flyer
Spanish Flyer
Region 2:
Date: Thursday, May 15th, 2025
Time: 3PM-6PM
Location: The Keefe Community Center
Address: 11 Pine Street, Hamden CT 06514 (parking available on 18 George Street)
English Flyer
Spanish Flyer
Region 1:
Date: Friday, May 30th, 2025
Time: 3PM-6PM
Location: The Triangle Community Center
Address: 650 West Avenue, Norwalk CT 06850
English Flyer
Spanish Flyer
Please RSVP to sranmal-suppies@wheelerclinic.org if your agency is interested in tabling our event.
| | Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health | | |
April 23, 2025, is World Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Day (WICAMHD)
This year marks the 4 celebration of the World Infant, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Day (WICAMHD). In 2022, WAIMH connected with IACAPAP (International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions), WPA-CAP (World Psychiatric Association Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section), and ISAPP (International Society for Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology) to initiate the World Infant, Child & Adolescent Mental Health Day on 23 April annually.
Bridging Worlds: Mental Health Support for Displaced Children and Families.
The specific aims are to:
- Recognize the global importance of infant, child, and adolescent mental health, and
- Advocate for the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness in infants, children, and adolescents.
Click on the link below to register today:
https://iacapap.org/events/world-infant-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-day/wicamhd-2025.html
| | Like and Follow CT-AIMH on Social Media! | | | | |
