Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
What is I/ECMHC?
Countless studies have shown that access to early childhood mental health consultation can reduce preschool expulsions, improve parent-child relationships, increase positive social skills development, and increase staff retention.
Promoting young children's social and emotional well-being helps them develop the necessary skills for future success in learning and life.
In recognition of this evidence, the Illinois Model for Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation was developed in 2016. A workgroup of over twenty early childhood experts contributed to its development before the model was piloted for 3 years. It was later refined based on the results of that pilot program.
Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants are the ones who connect with program supervisors and staff to employ the findings and best practices of this model.
I/ECMH Consultants empower adults working with young children and their families to engage in exploration and discussion of the beliefs, actions, and goals that support healthy adult-child relationships.
By supporting the adults that work with young children and their families, the quality of relationships is enhanced between the adults, families, and the children they serve.
In practice, consultants build positive relationships with consultees to offer reflective supervision, training, and case consultation in all places where young children learn and grow.
Benefits of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (I/ECMHC):
· Enhance social emotional skills for children, a foundational need for school readiness
· Address, examine, and reduce challenging behaviors
· Problem solve and educate to help diverse learners succeed
· Reduce staff burnout and compassion fatigue
· Enhance the reflective capacity of direct service providers and administrators
· Provide a bridge for family and program collaboration in meetings and daily experiences
For more information on the program, visit Illinois.gov
(link: https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/OECD/Documents/Illinois%20Model%20for%20IECMHC%202022.pdf)
Wonder Brightly Services
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation & Caregiver Coaching
Kids do well in life and learning when we support their social and emotional growth, build trust, use a strength-based lens, and empower the grownups to reflect and engage in new ways. Educators and parents know this and want what's best for the children in their care. We pour ourselves into the work – yet we don't always get the results we expect. It's not always clear and certain that we're taking the right approach.
My job is to give you permission to be curious. I help programs, clinicians, and families examine their work in a socially and emotionally responsible way. Together, we can build your capacity and expand your toolbox so that you can do better for your teams, families, and kids.
I adopt a 'listen first' posture as we work together to develop goals, objectives, strategies, and resources. I keep listening as the process unfolds; plans are evaluated and modified as needed.
Examining the cultural and environmental context of the child and their development is imperative. Information shared in our work together is processed in the spirit of collaboration. Collected facts are turned into knowledge, goals, and, ultimately, action.
Every situation is different. Sometimes, all we need is for someone to help us approach our challenges with compassion. At other times, we need encouragement and reassurance that our efforts will bear fruit. And, of course, technical training and consultation will often have a part to play.
Truth be told, we often don't know what we need to grow until we say it out loud. At times like that, an experienced listener can make all the difference. Whatever you need in your particular situation, I'm here to help you find it.
I offer:
- Reflective supervision for directors/administrators and staff in education, medical, and therapeutic programs for children
- Professional development and training opportunities
- Classroom observations, case consultation, and referral resources
- Family/School meeting support
- Caregiver Coaching for families
The systems that surround a developing child are vast. I'm here to support children, their families, and those systems because creating meaningful experiences together is what mental health, learning, and healthy child development is all about.
