Endorsement® Registry
Endorsement® involves a standardized process to determine that a professional has accumulated specialized experiences in the infant and early childhood field and has signed a Code of Ethics. All applicants receive a copy of the Code of Ethics. An applicant’s experiences are documented by the submission of an application that details competency-based training, specialized work experiences, and for most, reflective supervision/consultation (RSC) experiences. The application also includes official transcripts and three reference ratings. Endorsees as Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor have passed an exam that includes measures of theoretical knowledge, direct service skills, and their capacity to apply these principles into practice. This exam is scored by a team of two reviewers who are blind to the identity of the examinee. To maintain Endorsement® also requires ongoing training and, in the cases of Infant/Early Childhood Family Specialist, Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Clinical, ongoing RSC. Endorsees are also required to recommit to upholding the Code of Ethics annually. Beginning in January of 2022, this commitment includes signing an attestation that the endorsee has not been sanctioned by a licensing board. Endorsement® is not a professional license or a certificate. RIAIMH Endorsement® cannot guarantee the quality of service of any endorsed professional. RIAIMH Endorsement® does not include a process by which complaints or concerns regarding ethics can be filed. If RIAIMH becomes aware of possible ethics violations by an endorsed professional, complainants are encouraged to, when applicable, contact the individual's professional licensing board. The RIAIMH Endorsement® does not offer monitoring for ethics violations, however if RIAIMH learns that an endorsed professional has been sanctioned by a licensing board, the individual’s name is moved to the Inactive Endorsement® Registry. Those professionals will follow the policy [link here] for reactivation to the Active Endorsement® Registry once the licensing board’s sanctions have been lifted. |
Click the categories below for lists of Rhode Island professionals who have earned the Rhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health (RIAIMH) Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health® (RI-IMH-Endorsement®).
Those who have earned RI-IMH-Endorsement® have demonstrated that they have completed specialized education, work, in-service training, and reflective supervision/consultation experiences (as defined in Endorsement® criteria) that have led to competency in the promotion and/or practice of infant mental health. RI-IMH-Endorsement® does not guarantee the ability to practice as a mental health professional, though many who have earned Endorsement® are licensed mental health professionals.
In order to retain active status on the Endorsement® registry, each professional is required to update Endorsement® status and renew RIAIMH membership annually. If the professionals RIAIMH Membership is not active, they will not appear in the Endorsement Directory.
Endorsed® professionals by category
- Early Childhood Family Associate
- Early Childhood Family Specialist
- Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist*
- Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor (Clinical)*
- Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor (Policy)*
- Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor (Research/Faculty)*
* RIAIMH has included all IECMH Endorsement categories. However, RI does not have professionals endorsed at each category yet!
ReciprocityThe members of the Alliance honor reciprocity of Endorsement® across states/countries, i.e., if a professional earns IMH-E® as an IMH Specialist (IMHS) in Arizona and then later moves to Rhode Island, the IMH-E® as IMHS will be honored by the professional’s new state. If an endorsed professional moves to a non-Alliance state/country, the individual can maintain their IMH-E® with that first state/country, i.e., keep up with renewal requirements in the first state/country. When/if the endorsed professional’s new state/country joins the Alliance, their Endorsement® can be transferred at that time. |
RIAIMH is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. RIAIMH is a founding member of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health.
RIAIMH is an affiliate of the World Association for Infant Mental Health. |
