Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) is an evidence-based approach to supporting caregivers with a child or classroom or program that challenges them. Research supports the efficacy of consultation to improve children’s social skills and emotional functioning, promote healthy relationships, reduce challenging behaviors, reduce the number of suspensions and expulsions, improve classroom quality, and reduce provider stress, burnout, and turnover.
-Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (2024).
What is Consultation?
IECMHC provides ongoing support primarily for early childhood programs, though it can benefit any program that works with young children.
The consultation process includes observation, screenings, reflective practice, meetings with all invested professionals, goal setting, coaching, referrals, modeling, and psychoeducation.
Best practices involve regularly scheduled, ongoing consultation with practitioners to ensure continuous growth and support. This collaborative approach equips caregivers and professionals with the tools needed to promote young children’s emotional well-being and healthy development.
"Behavior is communication. The more challenging the behavior, the more important it is to understand the meaning behind it."
-Claudia M. Gold
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