RIAIMH - What is IECMH-Endorsement®?

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Endorsement®
What is IECMH-Endorsement®?

Endorsement® is an internationally recognized credential used to demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills in the infant/early childhood mental health field. Endorsement® supports and recognizes the development of professional's work with or on behalf of pregnant people, infants, young children, and their families.

¿Qué es el Endorsement®?

What is Endorsement?

Endorsement® involves a standardized application process to determine that a professional has accumulated specialized experiences in the infant and early childhood field.

Endorsement® was developed by MI-AIMH (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 (Ireland and Australia).

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.

What are the benefits of Endorsement®?

Recognition as an expert in the field of IECMH
Recognition for your commitment to high-quality practice and for your specialized education, work experiences, training, and reflective supervision/consultation experiences.
Career and professional development
Develop your skills to apply infant mental health principles and practices to your work.
Part of a national/international credential
Supports families and enhances credibility

What are our members saying?

What Endorsement^® means to professionals, they told us:

Endorsement® has allowed them to have a better understanding of infant mental health work, that they are better prepared to work with families with very young children, that they obtained more relevant training and reflective supervision than they would have otherwise,
and that it increased their credibility.

How the Endorsement^® process benefits families, professionals told us:

They are more "well-rounded" providers due to requirements for reflective supervision and training, that they are better informed about 0-6 yr old development, attachment, and disorders because of studies for the Exam, that they are better advocates in court, and that they have increased breadth of theory and treatment approaches for 0–6-year-olds.

Endorsement Office Hours - Meet with RIAIMH's Endorsement Coordinator. Ask questions about the credential, EASy website, endorsement categories and requirements, get specific help with your application, learn how you earn and maintain endorsement, etc.

All questions welcome!

Endorsement office hours will resume in November 2026.

Tuesdays 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, EST

Thursdays 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, EST

Join Office Hours HERE - ZOOM LINK

or email:endorsement@riaimh.org