NYS-AIMH will endorse professionals from many disciplines at the following four categories:
- Infant Family Associate
- Infant Family Specialist
- Infant Mental Health Specialist
- Infant Mental Health Mentor
Please note: These categories are not hierarchical. They each recognize skills and knowledge, training and position responsibilities that conform with best practice standards. Each category is designed to capture a different perspective in this multidisciplinary field who work with very young children and their families.
| Categories | Education | Training | Experience | Reflective Practice |
| Infant Family Associate
(IFA) |
CDA, or Associate’s degree in a related area or 2 years of infant/childhood paid work experience (including college, AA and CDA work) | 30+ hours of defined training or portfolio | CDA, or Associate’s degree in a related area or 2 years of infant/childhood paid work experience (including college, AA and CDA work) | |
| Infant Family Specialist
(IFS) |
Bachelors or Masters degree in defined fields, 30+ hours of training | 30+ hours of defined training | 2 years post-BA paid IMH work | 24+ hours over 1-2 years of reflective practice |
| Infant Mental Health Specialist
(IMHS) |
Masters or Doctorate in defined fields (some possible credit for intensive in-service training) | 30+ hours of defined training | 2 years post-grad paid IMH direct services to infants/caregivers OR one year supervised graduate internship | 50 hours over 1-2 years of reflective practice |
| Infant Mental Health Mentor Clinical
(IMHM-C) |
Masters or Doctorate in defined fields (some possible credit for intensive in-service training) | 30+ hours of defined training | Level III + 3 years post-grad providing IMH reflective practice supervision/consultation and defined leadership activities | 50 hours over 1-2 years of reflective practice |
| Infant Mental Health Mentor Policy
(IMHM-P) |
3 years of post-grad experience in Policy/Administration related to IMH field and defined leadership activities | OPTIONAL: 50 hours over 1-2 years | ||
| Infant Mental Health Mentor Research/Faculty
(IMHM-R/F) |
3 years of post-grad experience as a leader in university-teaching and/or published research and other defined leadership activities | OPTIONAL: 50 hours over 1-2 years |