What does the program provide?

Advanced learning experiences that lead to: Graduating class picture

  • An increased specialized knowledge base and skill set.
  • Confidence to provide appropriate assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic intervention services to this population.
  • Extraordinary opportunities to learn from and with state and nationally recognized experts in the fields of infant, early childhood and family mental health.
  • Reflective mentoring and supervision experiences necessary to provide direct clinical and/or consultation services; and
  • A network of professionals with common goals and interests.

What are the program components?

  • Two or three-day professional development courses held monthly.
  • Courses taught and facilitated by state and nationally recognized experts in the field of infant, early childhood and family mental health.
  • Small-group sessions with mentors, including reflective, case-based discussions and clinical supervision for mental health professionals.
  • Applied relationship-based experiences and assigned readings between sessions; and
  • Individual portfolio development.

What are the program pathways?

Foundations Certificate

The Foundations Certificate is the pathway intended for professionals from multiple disciplines who seek professional development in providing infant and family consultation and relationship-based services to young children and their families within the context of reflective practices.  This includes professionals who provide direct services to young children and their families in preventive intervention, early education and health care programs (e.g., Birth to 3, Early Childhood Special Education, Early Head Start, Head Start, Child Care, Child Protective Services, and Home Visiting).  Disciplines may include but are not limited to: early childhood education (general and special education), child development, family studies, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, and speech and language therapy.

The Foundation pathway includes:

  • Participation in all program sessions
  • Small mentoring groups during each session
  • Mentoring for portfolio development and other assignments

Experiences with reflective mentoring groups, a new knowledge base of skills and portfolio development will help prepare participants who wish to seek Endorsement as an Infant Family Specialist.

Prerequisites:
Applicants applying to the Foundations Certificate pathway must hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a field related to infant, early childhood and parent work. 

Access to Families of Young Children for Observation and Practicum Experiences
Participants will be expected to conduct a monthly infant/family observation and reflection assignment. Work with young children under the age of five and their families will provide experiences for case based discussion and application of learning between sessions. If you don’t have access to a family for regular observation and other applied experiences, the program will help to arrange this.

Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate

The Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate is the pathway intended for professionals from multiple disciplines who seek advanced practice professional development in clinical assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and mental health consultation services for young children, their families and other professionals. This includes but is not limited to mental health and health care professionals who hold or are preparing for a professional license to practice (e.g., clinical, counseling and school psychology, clinical social work, nursing, psychiatry, pediatrics and clinical nursing).

 

 

 

This Advanced Clinical Practice pathway provides:

  • Participation in all program sessions
  • Advanced Clinical Practice reflective mentoring groups
  • Individual semi-monthly reflective consultation
  • Mentoring for portfolio development and other assignments
  • Specialized clinically focused coursework in assessment, diagnostic evaluation and treatment of disorders of infancy and early childhood

Clinical consultation, reflective mentoring groups, a new knowledge base of skills, and mentoring of portfolio development will help prepare participants who wish to seek Endorsement as an Infant Mental Health Specialist.

Prerequisites:
Applicants applying to the Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate pathway must hold a minimum of a Master’s degree in a mental health or health care field and hold a professional license to practice. Postdoctoral fellows and graduate students who are in a mental heath field and preparing for a license are also appropriate candidates for this certificate. 

Access to Families of Young Children for Observation and Practicum Experiences
For those in the Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate pathway, it is important to have access to families with infants and young children for applying assessment, diagnosis and treatment interventions between sessions. Individual Reflective Clinical Consultation will be provided through the UW Certificate Program.

What will I receive?

Continuing Education Units (CEU)
The Program offers Continuing Education Units (CEU) which may be used toward license renewal for a variety of professions including, but not limited to psychology, social work, counseling, occupational therapy, and marriage and family therapy.

University Credit
A credit Capstone Certificate is under development and pending.

Endorsement
Those who complete one of the certificate pathways will meet the educational requirements for endorsement as an Infant Family Specialist or Infant Mental Health Specialist through the Wisconsin Infant Mental Health Endorsement (adopted by the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health from the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Based Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health [MI-AIMH] ).

Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) Endorsement
This nationally recognized endorsement, available to states from the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health, has been adopted by the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health for Wisconsin. The endorsement offers a process that supports the development and recognition of infant and family service providers and professionals within an organized system of culturally sensitive, relationship-focused learning and work experiences that promote infant mental health.  Those who earn the endorsement will gain recognition by their employers and peers for having attained a level of competency in infant mental health principles and practices. Furthermore, the endorsement is recognized by other states.

IMH-E® Endorsement and the UW-Madison Certificate Program
The UW Certificate Program was developed in partnership with WI-AIMH to ensure that the course work and experiences help prepare participants to meet the competencies for endorsement. Those who complete the UW Advanced Clinical Practice Certificate will meet the educational, training and reflective mentoring/ consultation requirements to apply for a Level 3 Endorsement (Infant Mental Health Specialist). Those who complete the UW Foundations Certificate will meet the educational, training and reflective group mentoring/consultation requirements to apply for a Level 2 Endorsement (Infant Family Specialist).

Application for the Endorsement
Application for an endorsement is a separate process that takes place with the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH). For more information go to: www.wiaimh.org.