Infant Mental Health and Diversity Informed Practice

“Infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH), or healthy social-emotional development in very young children, develops in the context of family, community, and cultural expectations. Culture—the shared implicit and explicit rules and traditions expressed through the beliefs, values, and goals of a group of people—is the keystone of one’s identity and shapes people’s understanding of the world (Kalyanpur & Harry, 1999). Supporting staff members in how best to provide high-quality, diversity-informed and culturally competent services to children and families is a critically important skill for program leaders.” This article describes the importance of diversity informed practice and ten tips for promoting diversity informed practice among staff.

Yes, Mental Health Includes Babies

“IECMH is the developing capacity of the infant/young child to form close and secure relationships; experience, manage, and express a full range of emotions; and explore the environment and learn—all in the context of family, community, and culture.”

“IECMH is a multidisciplinary field, inclusive of persons from many professional and community backgrounds and systems, focusing on enhancing the emotional and social competence of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children through healthy relationships. Anyone who touches the lives of babies, young children and their families can contribute to promoting infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH).”

Zero to Three: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Resources

When parents and caregivers receive the support they need to foster close connections and healthy relationships with their babies, they are able to serve as a buffer against the impacts of ongoing and inherited trauma many families face every day.

ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. Healthy connections help build babies’ brains. By supporting the caring adults who touch the lives of infants and toddlers, we hope to maximize our long-term impact in ensuring all infants and toddlers have a bright future.

Visit the Zero to Three Resources page for information geared towards supporting families, professionals, and policy makers. Resources are also available in Spanish.

My Grown-up Cares – Online Interactive Book

When you listen to your child, share joyful moments, and offer comfort, support, and love, you’re helping them build a foundation of emotional well-being. The most important thing you can do for your child is to be a steady, loving presence in their lives! Read this interactive book online with your child.

Me and My Grown-Up (Music Video)

This soothing and engaging song celebrates the important relationships between children and their trusted grown-ups. You’ll find links to other resources supporting emotional well-being here as well.

I Notice, I Feel, I Can (Video and Tip Sheet)

Everyone has big feelings sometimes… and grown-ups can share helpful ways for children to move through them. In this video, watch Elmo’s daddy show that feelings matter. Then you can print out the three step plan provided to help children manage challenging emotions.

Sesame Street Workshop: Mental Health

Emotional Well-Being: Children who are healthy in mind, body, and heart can thrive in every way. Mental health IS health! Sesame Street Workshop has a wealth of resources to support social and emotional development for professionals and families. The resources highlighted below focus on the caregiver child relationship, the foundation of emotional well-being.

Research Synthesis: Infant Mental Health and Early Care and Education Providers (PDF)

This synthesis has been developed to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that early childhood providers have about Infant Mental Health (IMH) – early social and emotional development – and the IMH system. It also provides information about where to turn for additional information for promoting IMH when children and families are experiencing challenges.

The synthesis will address:

The definition of IMH
Why it is important that early childhood providers know about IMH
Approaches to promoting IMH
Prevention of IMH challenges
Focused intervention with children and families at risk
More intense/tertiary interventions

National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI)

The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs to improve and support the capacity of state systems and local programs to implement an early childhood multi-tiered system of support to improve the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children with, and at risk for, developmental disabilities or delays. The goals of the Center are to assist states and programs in their implementation of sustainable systems for the implementation of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Pyramid Model) within early intervention and early education programs with a focus on promoting the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children birth to five, reducing the use of inappropriate discipline practices, promoting family engagement, using data for decision-making, integrating early childhood and infant mental health consultation and fostering inclusion.

NCPMI has developed training modules, materials and tools for infants and toddlers and preschoolers to support the implementation of the Teaching Pyramid goals and practices. Visit the website to learn more and gain access to free resources.

Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network (IECMHC Network)

Offers no cost infant and early childhood mental health consultation services, supports and resources for all early learning and care providers in California

The California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) Network is a professional development project funded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Child Care and Development Division, and is coordinated by WestEd. The IECMHC Network delivers consultation services, resources, and training activities for early learning and care center-based program staff, family child care providers, and family, friend, and neighbor caregivers. IECMHC Network services are offered at no cost for early learning and care center-based programs and home-based care providers in California.

Infant Mental Health and Diversity Informed Practice