A Note from the CT-AIMH Executive Director, Heidi Maderia

As summer winds down, I wanted to share a highlight of my summer. In June, I was able to attend the 2024 World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH) Interim Congress in Tampere, Finland. The theme was: Looking for the Best Care for Babies, Young Children, and Their Families. The Congress showcased Nordic countries and how they deliver and acknowledge a society that is thoughtfully caring for our youngest and most vulnerable children and their families. They shared about their own Finish culture that celebrates Finish author and artist Tove Janson who wrote about a Moomin family where everyone is accepted. They spoke about indigenous Nordic cultures, and highlighted the understanding that there are a wide variety of social and cultural conditions under which young children grow up in different parts of the world. I was especially enamored with the word EQUIFINALITY, as it was expounded upon as a culturally sensitive approach to Infant Mental Health: looking at the diverse pathways to positive mental health outcomes, rather than insisting on established wisdom about what kind of early relationships are ideal for infants.

SAVE THE DATE!

Thursday, November 21st

CT-AIMH 2024 Virtual

 Fall Conference

Keynote Presenter: Dr. Joseph Crumbley

Topic: Implementing Diversity-Informed Practice with Kinship Families

Discussant: Dr. Brenda Jones Harden, IMH-E®

Topic: Implications of Kinship Care from the Voice of the Baby

Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 9:00am-4:00pm

Location: Virtual on ZOOM

NASW CECs: Pending

Panelists:

Connecticut Kinship Care Professionals

SAVE THE DATES!

*New for CT-AIMH*

The Growing Brain Series

Presented by: Melissa Mendez

Location: Virtual

Dates:

November 12, 2024

December 10, 2024

January 14, 2024

February 11, 2024

Time:

1pm-4pm

Registration Link:

Coming in October! (See CT-AIMH Website)

CT-AIMH Celebrate Babies Campaign Survey

Please, fill out our Celebrate Babies Campaign Survey by October 10th, 2024 and be entered to win FREE admission to CT-AIMH's upcoming 2024 Virtual Fall Conference! Two people will be selected at random.

Celebrate Babies Campaign Survey

CT-AIMH 2024 Stakeholders Meeting:

It’s Time to Celebrate Babies!

CT-AIMH would like to Invite our Stakeholders and Members to Join our Celebrate Babies Event

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024 from

Time: 10am-1pm (*FREE lunch 12-1pm)

Location: The Lyceum in Hartford, CT

Audience: CT-AIMH members and stakeholdes



Event includes: CT-AIMH biannual report, a presentation from Dr. Carlita Elias, PsyD, IMH-E® Topic: Centering Equity As We Celebrate Babies, a reading of the Governor’s Celebrate Babies Week Proclamation, and time to network and have lunch with our stakeholders and members.

Reminder of the changes to the requirements to earn Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (IECMHS) Endorsement:

Starting January 1, 2025, there will no longer be an exam to become endorsed as IECMHS. Instead, there will be additions and updates made to the requirements for the IECMHS Endorsement application. These updates will ask for demonstration of standards related to what the exam was measuring for.

Here's what's changing for people who want to become endorsed as Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist starting in 2025:

REFERENCE RATING FORMS

ETHICS WORK

Two years of supervised paid work experience delivering culturally sensitive, relationship-focused parent-infant psychotherapy—a dyadic mental health treatment aimed at enhancing the parent-infant attachment relationship and optimal infant development. These services are provided by a licensed or license-eligible infant and early childhood mental health therapist specializing in the treatment of infants/toddlers (perinatal-36 months or 36 months to 6 years) in primary caregiving relationships (i.e., biological, foster, fictive kin, adoptive parent or guardian). The following work requirements must be met:

· Two years of work experience; one year or full-time equivalent of supervised internship with direct parent-infant/child psychotherapy experience as described above may count towards the 2 years paid work experience requirement if the internship supervisor is an endorsed professional (MHS or MHM-C).

· A master's degree or higher OR a professional mental health license from a state regulatory agency

TRAINING

· A minimum of 33 clock hours is required.

· Of the 33 required hours, 3 hours must be dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion in infant/early childhood mental health.

· Of the 33 required hours, 10 hours must focus on parent-infant/child psychotherapy.

What does this mean for you?

· If you're already trying to earn Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist, or if you're thinking about it, you have some decisions to make. You can take the exam this year, or you can wait until 2025 when there won't be an exam anymore. This applies to applicants and those who are retaking the exam.

· You'll also need to think about how these changes fit with your experience. If you decide to wait until 2025, you'll have to show you meet the new requirements at that time. Don't ask for references now; wait until the new forms are ready in 2025.

Applications for IECMHS will be frozen August 2, 2024. After that, you won't be able to work on your application anymore. Please reach out to Heather at heather.bonitzmoore@ct-aimh.org so that we can help you determine what this means for you based on whether you're taking the exam or waiting for the new requirements.

Endorsement Renewal:

As you know, continued growth and development are crucial for all IECMH professionals, ensuring the maintenance and enhancement of skills, knowledge, and ethical practices. CT-AIMH captures this ongoing professional development through Endorsement renewal. We are excited to share that Endorsement® renewal will now be captured through an attestation process and is moving to a three-year renewal cycle.

The 2024 Endorsement renewal period is from October 1 through December 15, 2024. Once your Endorsement is renewed, it will be due again on December 31, 2027.

To complete your Endorsement® renewal, please follow these steps:

1. Login to EASy: [ CTAIMH | EASy 7.5 (myeasy.org) ]

2. Select “Renew Endorsement” for each Endorsement you wish to keep active. Consider archiving any old Endorsements you no longer need.

3. Select each met requirement.

4. Click “Attest.”

5. Pay any applicable renewal fees.

You will receive an automated email from EASy confirming that your Endorsement has been renewed. You can also confirm the successful completion of your Endorsement renewal by checking the Endorsement Registry.

Below is a link to a video tutorial of renewal via attestation:

Click Link

REMINDERS:

· If you earned Endorsement in 2024 you do not need to renew this year; your first renewal will be due December 15, 2027.

· You must still complete training and RS requirements for the 3 year period; you will have the entire 3 year period to complete 45 training hours and receive 36 hours of RSC from a qualified Endorsed provider



· Annual renewal of membership is required to maintain Endorsement

Please contact Heather at heather.bonitzmoore@ct-aimh.org with any questions!

We're so excited that Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health will receive $1 for each $2.50 reusable Community Bag sold throughout September 2024. It's time to get ready for your month as our Stop & Shop Community Bag Program Nonprofit Partner at:

150 Whalley Avenue, New Haven CT

A letter from Interim BOD President at the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health

Welcome Ashley McCormick as Our New Permanent Executive Director!



Dear Community Members,

After a comprehensive interview process, the Board of Directors has officially selected Ashley

McCormick as the Executive Director of the Alliance for Infant Mental Health, effective July

2024. Ashley has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication over the past nine months

as interim Executive Director, navigating very challenging circumstances efficiently and

effectively, and the Alliance has emerged stronger than ever. We are confident that she will

continue to lead the organization with a passion and vision that reflects the Alliance’s deep

commitment to IECMH professionals in AIMHS across the US and globally.

Ashley’s journey with the Alliance and previously with MI-AIMH spans nearly a decade,

coupled with another decade of experience as a direct service infant mental health professional.

Her vast experience has enabled her to:

• Implement new best practices that safeguard the organization.

• Foster a positive work environment for Alliance staff.

• Navigate through financial challenges, ensuring organizational resilience and stability.

• Engage with existing and new national partnerships, strengthening the Alliance’s role as a

leader in the national IECMH landscape.

• Develop new procedures and systems that support the sustainability of the Alliance.

Notable achievements under Ashley’s leadership include smart financial decisions, such as

discontinuing a lease to transition to a work-from-home model while still providing opportunities for

team collaboration. She has also utilized data to inform financial decision-making and created new

avenues for staff to take on leadership roles, emphasizing shared power. Ashley has a deep

commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, seeking her own consultation and ensuring that

Alliance staff receives equity coaching from an outside consultant and group reflective supervision.

Her leadership in this area exemplifies her dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable

environment for all. Additionally, Ashley has leveraged the Alliance’s involvement with the Infant

Mental Health Journal, met with key state and national stakeholders for planning and visioning, and

actively sought opportunities to raise awareness about the Alliance.

As we look to the future, Ashley has set clear goals to promote a positive work environment, enhance

financial efficiency, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and generate new lines of revenue.

Her vision and strategic approach will undoubtedly propel the Alliance to new heights.

Please join us in congratulating Ashley McCormick on her well-deserved appointment. We are

excited about the future and confident that under her leadership, the Alliance will continue to

thrive and make a significant impact in the field of infant mental health.

Warm regards,

Meyleen Velasquez, DSW, LICSW, PMH-C, RPT-S®, IMH-E®

Interim BOD President at the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health

THANK YOU!