What is Endorsement®?
Endorsement® is an international credential that provides recognition of specialized knowledge and expertise for professionals working with or on behalf of infants, toddlers, and families with young children. This process uses a nationally recognized set of standards and competencies that define best practice and guide professional development across disciplines.
NYS-AIMH Endorsement® serves as one of the first and most comprehensive efforts in the country to define best practice and to guide professional growth at multiple levels and across disciplines in the field of infant and early childhood mental health. NYS-AIMH Endorsement® promotes culturally sensitive, relationship-focused practice and is supported nationally by the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health.
Categories
Endorsement categories are not hierarchical. Instead, they recognize skills, knowledge, training, and scope of work / job responsibilities that align with best practice standards.
Each Endorsement category is designed to capture the different perspectives in this multidisciplinary field of I/ECMH.
NYS-AIMH offers Infant Mental Health Endorsement® (IMH-E®) for those working with prenatal – age three and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement® (ECMH-E®) for those who work with ages 3-6. Endorsement reflects each professional’s scope of work in the following categories:
Infant/Early Childhood Family Associate
Infant/Early Childhood Family Specialist
Infant/Early Childhood Family Reflective Supervisor – NEW!
Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist
Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor
STEP ONE
Become a Member of NYS-AIMH
STEP TWO
Be prepared to apply for the Endorsement by reviewing some helpful materials:
Which Endorsement Category is right for you?
Competency Guidelines
(Printed copy $20)
Self Assessment for all categories
Resources for Exam preparation for categories IMHM and IMHS
STEP THREE
Register for the endorsement
Non-refundable registration fees are:
$15 for Infant Family Associate & Infant Family Specialist
$25 for Infant Mental Health Specialist & Infant Mental Health Mentor
STEP FOUR
You will be connected to an Adviser to help guide you through the process
STEP FIVE
Fill out your portfolio and submit it by the deadline and pay processing fee*.
There is no deadline for submitting portfolios for Infant Family Associate & Infant Family Specialist.
STEP SIX
For Infant Mental Health Specialist and Clinical, Policy and Research Mentors, once your portfolio is approved, you will be notified regarding your eligibility to sit for the Endorsement exam.
*Processing fees
Infant Family Associate – $ 25
Infant Family Specialist – $ 100
Infant Mental Health Specialist – $ 300
Infant Mental Health Mentor – $400
Applicants at all categories are encouraged to inquire about special arrangements if the cost of Endorsement is a barrier. Please note that these fees and policies will be reviewed annually and may be subject to change.
