Competencies
For questions about endorsement, please email our endorsement team at endorsement@akaimh.org
Link to complete booklet of Competencies
“The materials supporting the Alaska Association Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (AK-AIMH) Competency Guidelines® are copyrighted by the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH). The Alaska Association for Infant and Mental Health is able to make these materials available to our membership and collaborators through a licensing agreement with the MI-AIMH.
Copyright law does allow individuals to print out or make ONE copy of copyrighted material for personal, non-commercial purposes only. None of the copyrighted Endorsement® documents included here may be reproduced, displayed, distributed or otherwise used in any format, including electronically, without the express written consent of MI-AIMH. Legal action will be taken against those who violate the copyright.”
What are the New Competency Standards?
Alaska’s Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Competency System encompasses multiple disciples and levels of service delivery, including promotion, prevention, early intervention, and treatment. Currently, no nationally acknowledged framework detailing required infant mental health competencies for professionals working with infants, young children, and their families. To this end, in April 2011, Alaska took an essential step in helping the state’s early childhood workforce build core knowledge about the social-emotional health of infants and very young children. As part of their efforts to ensure that all professionals who work with children from birth to five are knowledgeable and skilled in promoting early childhood mental health, the State of Alaska entered into a licensing agreement with the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH) to use the Competency Guidelines for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Based Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health. With this agreement, and in keeping with the Alaska Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association (AK-AIMH) Strategic Plan for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (April 2011), the state has committed to using these nationally recognized competencies to systematize training at various levels of infant/early childhood and family service provision promoting infant mental health. In doing so, Alaska joined 33 other states that have purchased a license to use the competency-based professional development system.
What is the Value of a Competency-Based System for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health? It is valuable in three ways: 1) it provides a set of competencies for professional development in the infant, early childhood, and family field; 2) it assures people working with infants, young children, and families provide culturally sensitive, relationship-based services meeting the standards approved by a recognized professional organization; and, 3) recognizes the importance of continuing education and training and demonstrates a commitment by professionals from across systems to provide services promoting infant mental health with a high level of integrity.
Are the Competencies Mandatory for Providing Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Services in Alaska? No, at this time, mastery of the competencies is not required to work in the field of infant and early childhood mental health in the State of Alaska. However, the AK-AIMH competencies provide a pathway for development in the infant, early childhood, and family field for the span of one’s career. They also assure families, agencies, and the public that the person delivering services meets professional standards agreed upon by professional consensus. Completing the competencies can lead to an endorsement from the Alaska Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Association. Approval is provided in 4 different categories:
Infant/Early Childhood Family Associate (IFA/ECFA)
Infant/Early Childhood Family Specialist (IFS/ECFS)
Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (IMHS/ECMHS)
Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor (clinical, policy, or faculty/research) (IMHM-C/ECMHM-C)
