Who We Are
AK-AIMH is a non-profit state wide organization and network of parents, multidisciplinary professionals and caring individuals developed to support the emotional health and well being of infants, young children and their families. We are devoted to strengthening relationships between infants, parents and caregivers. The caregiver-infant relationship is central to the healthy development of young children, and we are committed to the view that these relationships are influenced by the parent’s or caregiver’s actions and experiences, the infant’s characteristics and responses and the surrounding environment.
Mission
Promote the importance of the social emotional well-being of infants and young children and their families in Alaska by strengthening and supporting those who touch their lives.
Core Values
Family | Meaningful Impact | Relationships | Collaboration | Growth | Culture
Core Activities
Membership in AK-AKAIM promotes capacity-building and delivery of optimal services for infants, small children and families. Your membership provides early access to discounted trainings providing increased knowledge, skills and abilities which translate into IECMH Competencies towards Endorsement.
Our 2021-26 Strategic Plan includes definitive strategies for implementing diversity- informed IECMH best practices and professional development principles that are embedded in public policy and programs at local, state and national levels. Members become involved in these processes independently or by applying to join the AK-AIMH Board of Directors.
AK-AIMH strives to develop and strengthen ongoing partnerships with Alaska Native organizations, rural community members, healthcare providers, educational, administrative, and other professional entities with shared visions of advancing and supporting IECMH needs, practices and legislation.
Long-Term Goal
AK-AIMH is widely recognized throughout all of Alaska as a thriving, highly-respected, well-resourced organization with significant demonstrated impact on those who support the social emotional health of infant, young children and their families.
AK-AIMH is a member of the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health®.
The Alliance is a global organization that includes those states and countries whose infant mental health associations have licensed the use of the workforce development tools, Competency Guidelines® and Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health®, under their associations’ names. There are now 29 US states and 2 international associations for a total of 31 Alliance members.
WAIMH's mission promotes education, research, and study of the effects of mental, emotional and social development during infancy on later normal and psychopathological development through international and interdisciplinary cooperation, publications, affiliate associations, and through regional and biennial congresses devoted to scientific, educational, and clinical work with infants and their caregivers.